Diego Costa scored and was then sent off during an explosive La Liga derby between Atletico Madrid and Getafe at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon.
Costa was named in the Atletico XI for the first time since sealing an emotional return to the capital club, and he netted his team's second in their 2-0 win.
The former Chelsea forward was then sent off moments later as he picked up a second yellow card for celebrating with the crowd behind the goal.
The victory has seen second-placed Atletico move to within six points of league leaders Barcelona, while Getafe remain in eighth position in the table.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Morning all! La Liga football is back! The winter break in Spain has been and gone, and our first live La Liga clash of 2018 sees Atletico Madrid welcome Getafe to the wonderful Wanda Metropolitano. The hosts will be looking to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona to six points, but Getafe have had a very impressive first half to the 2017-18 campaign. Stay tuned for live updates from Madrid!
Not since November 2011 have Getafe beaten Atletico in the league, with that 3-2 success occurring at the home of El Geta. Atletico have won each of the last six league meetings between the two teams – including a 1-0 victory in their last match-up in February 2016. It is a tough ask for the visitors in this match, but they have impressed in their first 17 matches of the season.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from the Spanish capital. Getafe have not played since before Christmas, but Atletico were in action against Lleida Esportiu in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night. Let's have a look at the two teams here...
TEAMS!
ATLETI: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Godin, Lucas; Correa, Koke, Gabi, Carrasco; Griezmann, Costa
GETAFE: Martinez; Suarez, Djene, Cala, Antunes; Portillo, Mora, Arambarri, Amath; Molina, Angel
A certain someone is back in the final third for Atletico...
Of course, the standout team news sees Diego Costa start his first match for Atletico since sealing a return to the club. He came off the bench to score in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night, but makes the XI here. It will be a special occasion for the Spain international, and he is partnered in the final third by Antoine Griezmann. Angel Correa and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco also start in what is a very attacking team, leaving fellow new arrival Vitolo on the bench. Getafe will be delighted, or not.
As for Getafe, head coach Jose Bordalas has changed his goalkeeper for this match, with on-loan Arsenal stopper Emiliano Martinez making his La Liga debut in place of Vicente Guaita. Mauro Arambarri is also back from suspension to start for the away side, who have Angel, Jorge Molina and Amath Ndiaye in the final third. On-loan Swansea City winger Jefferson Montero starts on the bench.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff in the Spanish capital. I shall speak about Getafe and their start to the season a little bit later, but let's start with the hosts Atletico. As mentioned, Diego Simeone's side were in Copa del Rey action on Thursday night – recording a 4-0 win over Lleida Esportiu in the first leg of their last-16 clash.
Diego Costa and Vitolo both came off the bench to make their debuts for Atletico on Wednesday night, and the former got his name on the scoresheet. The Atletico supporters are absolutely delighted to have their former hero back at the club, and he starts this afternoon. It would take a brave man to bet against the Spain international finding the back of the net at the Wanda Metropolitano today.
Atletico have won 10, drawn six and lost one of their 17 league matches this season to sit second in the table. They are nine points off the leaders Barcelona, but sit five points clear of fourth-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. If Simeone's side are to chase down Barcelona at the summit then these are the type of matches that they simply have to win.
Atletico will enter this match off the back of a league defeat, however, having lost 1-0 at Espanyol before the international break. It was a blow for the capital club, but they have been - on the whole - strong this season. Simeone's team are in pole position to challenge Barcelona at the moment.
Unsurprisingly, Atletico have been strong at the back this season – conceding just eight times in their 17 league matches. They have actually only scored 25 times themselves, however, which is 20 fewer than Barcelona. The introduction of Diego Costa should see things improve in that department!
As for Getafe, El Geta will be delighted with their campaign to date. They have won six, drawn five and lost six of their 17 league matches, with a total of 23 points leaving them in eighth position in the table. The capital side are only four points off sixth-placed Villarreal, and will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 home win over Las Palmas before the international break.
Getafe only returned to La Liga this season after coming through the Segunda Division playoffs last term. They finished as high as sixth in the top flight during the 2009-10 campaign, but struggled in the bottom half of the table before eventually being relegated in 19th at the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
Getafe have been strong at home this season, but they will enter this game having lost their last three league fixtures on the road without scoring a single goal. It is a big ask for El Geta to take something from this match, but they have shown that they are more than capable of finishing in the top half with some impressive performances this term. Right, kickoff in the capital is next!
KICKOFF! Getafe kick things off at the Wanda Metropolitano...
... far from a full house inside the stadium this afternoon, but there is a good atmosphere, and Atletico will be looking to collect all three points. Getafe, however, will enter this match full of confidence.
Savic rises highest to meet a deep free kick from Gabi, but it is a comfortable claim for Martinez.
It is actually Correa through the middle with Costa at the moment, with Griezmann operating in a wide area. Atletico are the team on the front foot, but Getafe have shown that they are not afraid to commit players on the counter-attack. It should be an open and entertaining game of football here.
CHANCE! Super chance for Getafe to take a shock lead as Angel races through on the Atletico goal. Oblak had come off his line, but the striker can only chip into the arms of the goalkeeper!
CLOSE! Costa just misses the crossbar with a curling effort from distance!
Oblak has to keep out a strike from Amath as Getafe continue to commit players in the final third of the field. It has been a very open and entertaining first seven minutes to this La Liga clash.
The rain is falling in the Spanish capital, which should make the pitch nice and slick. Lucas has just shown stunning pace in a wide area for Atletico, but the defender could not pick out Carrasco with the pass. Getafe then see a decent attack break down in the final third. Still goalless in Madrid.
CHANCE! Again it is good attacking play from Getafe as Molina delivers towards Amath at the far post, but the forward can only fire into the arms of the home side's goalkeeper.
CHANCE! Costa heads down towards Griezmann, but the attacker fires wide!
This is a very, very good game of football. It is aggressive and all-action, with both teams committing players in the final third of the field. Costa looks very, very sharp for the home side.
BOOKING! Vrsaljko (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Portillo.
Getafe are pressing very high up the field, with Amath joining Angel and Molina in forward areas. The away side have not come to sit deep and absorb the pressure. They fancy their chances here.
GOAL! Atletico 1-0 Getafe (Correa)
Breakthrough! Atletico take the lead in the 18th minute as Griezmann finds a bit of space before poking a super ball into Correa, who angles the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Brilliant!
CHANCE! Super chance for Getafe to level as Amath finds all sorts of space inside the Atletico box, but the number 23 can only fire the ball into the arms of Oblak once again.
It has been hard work watching Atletico this season, but this has been a brilliant game of football. The first 23 minutes has flown past, and Getafe deserve credit for their performance thus far here.
BOOKING! Lucas (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Mora.
Djene is a touch fortunate to escape a booking following a late challenge on Costa. The Atletico players are furious as Lucas and Vrsaljko have both picked up bookings for nothing challenges!
Possession for Atletico as we approach the 30-minute mark of this La Liga clash.
BOOKING! Portillo (Getafe) is booked for a foul on Gabi.
BOOKING! Gabi (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Amath.
You do get the feeling that Getafe need to score the next goal if they are to stand a chance of picking up a positive result. Atletico simply do not give up two-goal leads. Not an awful lot to report in terms of clear chances in the last few minutes, but the home side are on the front foot.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and Getafe might be behind, but the visitors have been very impressive. Amath really should have had a couple of goals in this first period.
Another comfortable save for Oblak as the Atletico goalkeeper keeps out Angel. We have not seen too much from the likes of Costa, Griezmann and Correa in the last five or 10 minutes here.
Quite a scrappy game at the moment as the referee is forced to intervene following a couple of late challenges. There has already been plenty of yellow cards this afternoon. Getafe are quite comfortable at the moment as they hold off the threat from Atletico. There has been a drop in tempo.
It is a very, very scrappy game at the moment as play stops every 20, 30 seconds due to a late challenge. We have not had a chance of note for some time, which is a shame after a bright start.
The referee has just come across to speak with Simeone and his assistant as tempers flare once again. It is a shame because the actual football has taken a back seat in the last 10 minutes or so.
BOOKING! Griezmann (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Mora.
Griezmann has just won the ball, and been booked. The referee is taking a lot of abuse here!
BOOKINGS! Cala (Getafe) and Savic (Atletico) are also booked following a clash in the middle of the pitch. It is getting a little bit silly now as both sets of players clash.
The odds on a red card here must be about 1/100 here. It is going to happen.
HALF-TIME: Atletico 1-0 Getafe
All kicking off on the touchline! Both benches are in the mix, while Costa comes across to say something. It is half-time, however, with Atletico leading 1-0 courtesy of a super finish from Correa. Unfortunately the football took a back seat late in the first half though due to the referee!
STATISTICS! Atletico dominated the first-half possession with 71%, while they had four attempts - two of which were on target. Getafe, meanwhile, hit the target with all four of their attempts. In truth, the away side should be level here. Incredibly, there were seven yellow cards in the first period - five of which came for Atletico. The match descended into chaos after the first goal!
BENCH WATCH! Jimenez, Fajr, Molinero, Pacheco and Shibasaki are all on a very attacking Getafe bench here, and it would not be a surprise to see at least two of those in the second period. Atletico, meanwhile, have the likes of Gameiro, Thomas, Fernando Torres and Vitolo in reserve here.
RESTART! Atletico resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops in the capital.
Getafe are still pressing extremely high up the field, with Amath causing problems with his pace and movement. You do get the feeling that there is a goal in this match for the away side.
Carrasco finds space in a wide area before delivering towards Costa, but Cala is on hand to make the clearance. Not too much to report in terms of chances in the early stages of the second period.
Griezmann looks to run away from Suarez just outside the Getafe box, but the defender brings the Atletico forward to the ground. Thankfully both sets of players seem to have calmed down here!
Possession football for Atletico, but not an awful lot else at the moment.
The opening 20 minutes of this match were excellent, but the tempo has seriously dropped since then. Both sets of players have calmed down following the raft of bookings late in the first period, but not too much is happening in terms of chances and the like at the moment. Improvement needed.
CHANCE! Costa breaks into a dangerous position following a mistake from Suarez, but the striker fires over the crossbar. That was his moment!
ATLETICO SUB! Thomas replaces Carrasco for the home side.
BOOKING! Costa (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Djene.
GETAFE SUBS! Shibasaki and Alvaro replace Portillo and Mora.
Getafe are on the front foot at the moment as they chase down a leveller. We have not seen too much from Griezmann in the second period, while Costa has been quiet aside from that shot a little while ago. Still a solid 25 minutes of football to play before the final whistle is blown here.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 2-0 Getafe (Costa)
It had to be him didn't it! Costa makes it 2-0 Atletico as the striker converts a low cross from Vrsaljko! But wait, he has gone into the crowd, and is already on a booking here...
... RED CARD! Costa!
Oh my word! Costa, who was already on a booking, is sent off for going into the crowd! It just had to happen. He scores before being sent off. What a return for the Spain international.
It would not be a surprise to see another red card in the final 20 minutes of this one.
BOOKING! Shibasaki (Getafe) is bookes for dissent.
GETAFE SUB! Pacheco replaces Angel for the away side.
Atletico are having to work hard to keep Getafe out at the moment as the away side continue to raise the tempo in the final third. One goal back at this stage would make things very interesting indeed.
All three points for Atletico would move them to within six points of the leaders Barcelona, who host Levante tomorrow afternoon. Little over 10 minutes of football to play in the capital here.
Griezmann stands over a free kick outside the Getafe box, but Martinez is on hand to save.
Half-chance for Getafe as Godin loses the ball in a dangerous area, but Pacheco cannot release a clean strike inside the box, and Thomas is on hand to clear the danger for the home side.
ATLETICO SUB! Gimenez (Atletico) replaces Correa for the home side.
Little over five minutes of football remaining, and Atletico are quite comfortable here. Getafe have played well for long stages of this match, but have fallen short in the final third of the field.
Atletico have a free kick in a dangerous area as Griezmann is felled by Arambarri...
... Koke's free kick is straight into the arms of Martinez.
Alvaro sends one over the Atletico crossbar after a smart move from the visitors.
ATLETICO SUB! Torres replaces Koke for the home side.
Arambarri is a touch fortunate to escape a booking for what seems to be his 100th foul.
We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the 90 here.
Getafe continue to put the pressure on in the latter stages, but it does appear that Atletico are going to keep yet another clean sheet. It has been some derby in the Spanish capital!
FULL-TIME: Atletico 2-0 Getafe
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Atletico recording a 2-0 win over Getafe in La Liga. Costa scores on his return, and is then sent off. What a match! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live minute-by-minute coverage once again. Until next time!
