Jose Antonio Reyes scored a goal and set up another as Atletico
Madrid bounced back from an embarrassing midweek defeat with a 4-0
victory at Valladolid on Saturday.
Reyes found Jose Manuel Jurado for the 16th minute opener
before the former Arsenal winger sent a low shot through a crowd
for the third in the 58th.
Diego Forlan scored from a break in the 32nd and late
substitute Sergio Aguero completed the rout in the 90th as Atletico
rallied from Wednesday's 3-0 Copa del Rey loss to second-division
Recreativo Huelva.
"I'm very happy my players reacted," coach Quique Sanchez
Flores said. "We played with intelligence."
Sanchez Flores, who publicly lambasted his players following
the midweek loss, said his team needed to build on its most
complete performance of the season.
"We couldn't continue playing as badly as we have been
playing," he said. "We've got good players who will grow in
confidence after this win and who will take advantage going
forward."
Meanwhile, teenage midfielder Sergio Canales showed why he is
being coveted by clubs across Europe after scoring both goals to
lead Racing Santander to a 2-1 win over Sevilla, which was without
several regulars due to injury and Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Impressive buildup play put Canales clear through on goal in
the 26th and the 18-year-old forward calmly strode into the area
before lobbing goalkeeper Andres Palop.
Canales then showed excellent control in the 38th, using a
stepover to go past Palop before cutting back to score again, his
fourth goal of the season. Real Madrid, Sevilla and several English
clubs are reportedly interested in the Spain Under-19
international.
Ndri Romaric scored in the 63rd as Sevilla rallied but Racing
goalkeeper Fabio Coltorti ensured Racing's victory by diving to
keep Adriano's swerving shot out in injury time as the Andalucian
club's title hopes continued to flounder following a third straight
defeat.
Barcelona tops the table with 40 points, Real Madrid has 38,
Valencia 32 and Mallorca and Sevilla have 30.
Atletico moved away from the drop zone with a second straight
win and is now on 20 points, Racing has 19 and Valladolid 16 -
three above the relegation zone - after a second straight loss.
In Saturday's late game, Villarreal plays Almeria.
On Sunday, Spanish leader Barcelona plays at Tenerife after
Madrid, which welcomes playmaker Kaka back from injury, welcomes
Mallorca to the Santiago Bernabeu.
In Sunday's other games, it's: Xerez vs. Valencia; Sporting
Gijon vs. Getafe; Espanyol vs. Zaragoza; Deportivo vs. Osasuna; and
Malaga vs. Athletic Bilbao.
