Atlético Madrid 4 - Racing Santander 1

Atlético: Leo Franco; Seitaridis, Heitinga, Ujfalusi, Pernía; Maxi (Raúl García 85'), Paulo Assunçao, Maniche (Banega 85'), Simao (Luis García 85'); Agüero, Diego Forlán. 4-4-2.
Racing: Toño; Pinillos (Gonçalves 76'), Garay, César Navas, Marcano; Colsa (Canales 83'), Lacen (Luccin 81'); Munitis, Jonathan Pereira, Oscar Serrano; Tchité. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Seitaridis for Perea / Racing: Pinillos for Valera.

Goals:
0-1. 07. Tchité (penalty). After Tchité himself tripped by Heitinga inside area.
1-1. 20. Simao. Fired shot wide of Toño after Forlán headed back Maniche pass.
2-1. 33. Agüero. Ran on to Forlán pass and struck angled shot past keeper.
3-1. 77. Diego Forlán. Picked up ball from Assunçao and went on to beat Toño.
4-1. 80. Diego Forlán. Got on end of Seitaridis cross to head in on near post.

Yellow cards: Heitinga 06', Serrano 09', Ujfalusi 21', Maniche 38', Maxi 69', Tchité 90' / red cards: César Navas 31'.

Sixth placed Atlético Madrid are hoping to close the gap on the leaders as they play each other this month, and they moved to within three points of Sevilla after beating Racing Santander in the last match of the weekend.

Tchité gave the Cantabrians the lead from the penalty spot in the seventh minute after Heitinga had brought him down. But Simao equalised a few minutes later after Forlán headed the ball in to his path, and the visitors were left with ten men soon afterwards when César Navas was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Paulo Assunçao.

With just over half an hour gone Agüero ran on to a long ball from Forlán to put Atleti ahead, his first goal in a month. Munitis brought a good save out of Leo Franco and Jonathan Pereira shot wide either side of half time, but Forlán went close and Maxi had a penalty appeal turned down.

Forlán added two more though in a three minute period after the restart to put the game beyond Racing's reach, the first with a dipping shot after Assunçao had tackled a slow Lacen, and the second with an angled header from a Seitaridis cross. A great performance from the Uruguayan striker, and his side are now back on track.