Atletico Madrid moved to within three points of the top of La Liga with a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad on Sunday. Antoine Griezmann scored early on to give his team the lead at the break, and Atleti rarely looked like being hauled back by a tame La Real. In the final minutes Diego Reyes was sent off and Yannick Carrasco scored after a great counterattack from the right drove by Torres to wrap up the win. -Liga BBVA Table-

France forward Griezmann used his electric pace early in the ninth minute to race through the centre and put Atletico ahead with an exquisite chip over Sociedad keeper Geronimo Rulli. The 24-year-old -who joined Sociedad as a teenager- did not celebrate the goal against former club.

David Moyes’ side pressed hard for a goal in the second half without troubling Atletico’s obdurate defence too much. In the last stages local forward Jonathas, who had only been on the pitch a few minutes, was dismissed for protesting to the referee. Team mate Diego Reyes was shown two cards in quick succession shortly before the penalty incident, one for a cynical foul on Torres and one for protesting. Then Atletico broke in a great counterattack drove by Fernando Torres who sent clear to Yannick Carrasco to make it 2-0.

- Match stats:

Real Sociedad: Gerónimo Rulli, Joseba Zaldua, Diego Reyes, Iñigo Martínez, Alberto De la Bella, Asier Illarramendi, Markel Bergara (Rubén Pardo 74’), Carlos Vela, Sergio Canales (Bruma 73’), David Zurutuza (Jonatas 74’), Imanol Agirretxe.

Atlético de Madrid: Oblak, Juanfran, Godín, Giménez, Filipe Luís, Tiago, Gabi, Correa (Carrasco 63’), Griezmann (Saúl Ñíguez 87’), Jackson Martínez (Torres 64’).

Tarjetas amarillas: Jiménez 06’, Correa 16’, Godín 24’, Markel Bergara 25’, De la Bella 33’, Diego Reyes 87’-88’, Gabi 89’, Rulli 90+01’, Jonatas 90+2’-90+2’.

Goals:

0-1 (09’) Griezmann.
0-2 (90+1’) Carrasco.