Atlético Madrid 1 – 0 Deportivo La Coruña
Atlético Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruña 1-0 in La Liga, with Julián Álvarez scoring the only goal of the game in the second half.
The first half finished goalless. After the break, a move started by an Atlético midfielder ended with a cross from the left-back, and Álvarez finished from the edge of the six-yard box.
Álvarez could have scored twice, but Deportivo's goalkeeper blocked his second chance with his face. At the other end, Atlético's goalkeeper denied a Deportivo midfielder an equaliser, and a Deportivo player missed another chance to draw level in stoppage time.
The visitors had more shots on target, 5 to 4, although Atlético had more shots overall, 20 to 15.
The win in round 10 took Atlético to 25 points and strengthened their hold on second place. It also left them provisionally 2 points behind Barcelona ahead of the Clásico.
Before kick-off
Atlético chase a sixth straight league win as Giménez returns with Deportivo
Atlético Madrid should win with one side kept out and two goals or fewer in all.
Line-ups
Atlético Madrid 4-2-3-1
Substitutes Rodrigo Mendoza, Giuliano Simeone, Obed Vargas, Jorge Domínguez, Salvi Esquivel, Jorge Castillo, Daniel Martinez, Jonathan David, Robin Le Normand, Alexander Sørloth, Arnau Ortiz, Juan Musso
Deportivo La Coruña 4-2-3-1
Substitutes Angeliño, Luismi Cruz, Lucas Noubi, Riki Rodríguez, Ximo Navarro, Kevin Sánchez, Rubén, Álvaro Fernández, Jonathan Asp Jensen, Arnau Comas, Dani Barcia, Adama Traoré
Atlético de Madrid have won five LaLiga games in a row, and a sixth on Saturday night would take them to within two points of Barcelona, who have won all nine of theirs, before the Clásico on Sunday. Their run of six wins in all competitions ended with a 1-1 draw in Stuttgart on Tuesday, where Hjulmand was sent off; the ban is a European one, and he is available here.
Diego Simeone is without Koke, Cuti Romero and Johnny Cardoso. Kang-in Lee trained at reduced intensity on Wednesday but is expected to be available.
Deportivo arrive ninth and without a league win in five, three draws and two defeats, and they have conceded in every league match this season. Antonio Hidalgo is without Aubameyang, Marc Casadó, Zakaria Eddahchouri, Bright Ede and Noé Carrillo, and has not said who will start in goal; Rubén López is in the squad.
The visit carries a story of its own: José María Giménez returns to the Metropolitano with Deportivo, playing against the club that holds his contract. History favours the hosts. Atlético are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Deportivo and have conceded one goal in them; the most recent, in the Copa del Rey in January, was settled by a Griezmann free kick.
