Atlético cruise past Mallorca
Monday, January 17, 2011
Article summary
A rare goal from defender Juan Valera set Club Atlético de Madrid on their way to a 3-0 home victory against RCD Mallorca which lifts the Rojiblancos into sixth place in the Liga.
Article top media content
Article body
Club Atlético de Madrid moved up one place into sixth with a 3-0 defeat of RCD Mallorca at the Estadio Vicente Calderón.
Juan Valera gave the Rojiblancos a 13th-minute lead when he headed in his first Liga goal since 21 December 2008. Diego Forlán (34) increased the size of the visitors' task with his second strike in as many games and seventh in the top flight this season, running on to Fran Mérida's through ball and rounding goalkeeper Dudu Aouate. José Antonio Reyes added the third in added time.
Atlético played the last 21 minutes with ten men after Valera's defensive team-mate, Antonio López, was sent off for bringing down Emilio Nsue in the area but Pierre Webó's penalty kick was saved by David de Gea. The numbers were evened up for the closing stages when Jonathan De Guzman (87) saw red for a challenge on Juanfran. Mallorca, who had won their last two league matches, are ninth, three points behind Atlético.
