Football | La Liga | Atletico Madrid looking to maintain form

Thursday 2nd February 2012

Atletico Madrid looking to maintain form

Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Caminero has hailed the confidence instilled in the team by new coach Diego Simeone.

The Argentinian has steered Atletico to three straight wins and a fourth, over third-placed Valencia on Sunday night, will leave the Rojiblancos just four points behind them.

Caminero has witnessed a change in attitude since the return of Simeone to the Vicente Calderon stadium, and is happy to claim at least a portion of the credit for the appointment.

He told sports daily newspaper AS: "If we win we are all happy - the players, the fans, the media. Everyone is very excited now. The results change everything. El Cholo (Simeone) has already been a champion in Argentina (with Estudiantes) and his approach to football matches ours.

"He has already said that if a player is at Atletico, it is because they cannot be a bad player and I think the same way. El Cholo has 'Rojiblanco' spirit."

Asked if it was true he had suggested bringing in Simeone, Caminero added: "It is. I thought Diego was a person who could lead a change in the team.

"He has a different way of understanding the game and is a coach who will give much confidence to each player. I trust his work ethic."

Sporting Gijon begin life without coach Manuel Preciado, sacked earlier this week, when they host Osasuna in Sunday's early kick-off, while bottom side Real Zaragoza take on Rayo Vallecano at La Romareda.

Sevilla, without a win in six La Liga games, welcome third-bottom Villarreal to the Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium.

Real Madrid remained seven points clear of Barcelona at the top of the La Liga standings after both clubs recorded narrow victories on Saturday evening.

A first-half Sergio Ramos goal was enough to give Real Madrid a 1-0 victory at neighbours Getafe as they temporarily moved 10 points clear of Barcelona.

However, Barcelona responded in the late kick-off with a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Real Sociedad.

Lionel Messi set up Cristian Tello for a ninth-minute opener before the Argentina ace then fired home his 23rd league goal of the season in the 72nd minute to make it 2-0.

Sociedad pulled a goal immediately through Carlos Vela following a defensive mistake to set up a nervy finale for Barcelona, but Pep Guardiola's men held on for the points.

Levante's hopes of catching city rivals Valencia in third place suffered another setback as they were held to a draw at home by struggling Racing Santander on Saturday evening.

Arouna Kone put the hosts in front midway through the first half with a close-range header, but they wasted further chances to extend their lead and Racing salvaged a point through Manuel Arana's leveller on the hour mark.

Despite dropping two points Levante remain in fourth spot as their two nearest challengers Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at San Mames.

Athletic took the lead through Oscar de Marcos but Espanyol battled back to go 2-1 ahead just after half-time through fine efforts from Ndri Romaric and Vladimir Weiss.

Athletic's threat from set-pieces turned the game around again, though, as Fernando Llorente headed in Markel Susaeta's free-kick before Javi Marquez nodded home seven minutes later to put the hosts 3-2 ahead.

However, Espanyol salvaged a point when Juan Albin thumped home a stoppage-time equaliser to maintain his side's two-point advantage over Athletic in the race for a Champions League place.

A first-half Gonzalo Castro free-kick earned Real Mallorca a 1-0 win over Real Betis in a match that produced three red cards. Betis lost Mario in the 75th minute before Mallorca saw Ivan Ramis and Victor dismissed in the final four minutes as they finished with nine men.