Correa inspires Atlético to 2-1 win against Betis in Spain

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Ángel Correa went on as a second-half substitute to score one goal and set up another in Atlético Madrid’s 2-1 win at Real Betis in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Atlético’s first victory in six league games on the road left it in fourth place at seven points off the pace of leader Barcelona.

Real Madrid hosts Athletic Bilbao later Sunday and has the chance to go level on points at the top with Barcelona.

Correa’s first touch of the ball intercepted a pass from Álex Moreno and left him alone to round Betis goalkeeper Joel Robles and net the 58th-minute opener.

The Argentina forward then passed for Álvaro Morata who used the inside of his right boot to redirect Correa’s low cross past Robles with six minutes to play.

Defender Marc Bartra pulled back a goal in injury time for Betis.

Atlético coach Diego Simeone praised Correa for his ability to come off the bench and revitalize the team.

“I don’t like the word ‘supersub,’ since he is an important player for us and has started matches, but when he comes off the bench he knows what to do. He has something special,” Simeone said.

Morata squandered the best chance of the first half when he was on a solo break from near midfield only for Robles to push his strike onto the post.

STAYING CLOSE

Real Sociedad withstood an attempted comeback by 10-man Osasuna to earn a 4-3 away victory that kept it one point behind Atlético in fifth place.

Sociedad led by three goals after Mikel Oyarzabal, Cristian “Portu” Portugués, and Martin Odegaard all scored in the opening half hour.

But Osasuna rallied to 3-2 before defender Facundo Roncaglia was sent off with a direct red card for elbowing an opponent in the face with 20 minutes left. Substitute Alexander Isak made it 4-2.

Chimy Ávila scored his second goal for Osasuna with an excellent solo effort, lifting the ball over a defender and heading it into the corner of the net in the 84th.

SINKING ESPANYOL

Espanyol lost 2-0 at Leganés in a clash between the bottom two teams in the league.

Last-place Espanyol is three points behind Leganés and five points from safety.