Atletico Madrid claim win over Malaga despite Stefan Savic red card

Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Liga leaders Real Madrid, claiming a 4-2 win over Malaga at the Vicente Calderon despite playing much of the second half with 10 men.

Zinedine Zidane’s side had put down a marker earlier in the day with a 4-1 away win over Alaves, extending their lead at the top of the standings. But Atletico responded in style with an impressive victory of their own.

Yannick Carrasco opened the scoring, before a strike from Kevin Gameiro. Sandro halved the deficit with a stunning free kick against the run of play, but Gameiro found the net once again to restore Atletico Madrid’s two-goal cushion.

Stefan Savic was harshly shown a second yellow card just after the hour mark to reduce Diego Simeone’s side to 10 men, with Ignacio Camacho heading home not long after to reduce the hosts’ lead for a second time.

Carrasco secured the points with just minutes left, finding the back of the net with an exceptional finish from a tight angle, with Chory Castro also shown a second yellow card to reduce Malaga to 10 men just like their hosts.

The Belgian signed a new contract at the Vicente Calderon this week. In that contract is a release clause for €100 million. That’s how highly Atletico Madrid rate Carrasco, and this performance underlined why. He opened the scoring and was the key man as the hosts put Malaga to the sword in the first half. So just how important is he to Simeone’s side? Can a price tag really be put on his head?

Kevin Gameiro - The striker is still settling into his new surroundings at Atletico Madrid, but this was probably his best performance for his new club. Gameiro scored twice in the first half and looked dangerous every time he came forward. It was somewhat surprising to see him hooked by Simeone in the second half. He was Atletico’s most effective player.

Atletico Madrid - Oblak 6, Juanfran 8, Savic 5, Godin 7, Filipe 7, Gabi 7, Saul 7, Gaitan 4, Carrasco 8, Gameiro 8, Griezmann 7. Subs - Tiaga 6, Correa 6, Lucas 5.

Malaga - Kameni 7, Rosales 6, Kone 6, Villanueva 5, Ricca 5, Carlos 6, Fornals 5, Camacho 7, Jony 6, Castro 5, Sandro 7. Subs - Duda 6, En-Nesyri 5, Juanpi 5.

5’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Malaga: There's the opener! Carrasco finds the bottom corner of the net after a good through ball. Atletico have the lead and that's when they are so good. They can defend this now.

9’ GRIEZMANN CHANCE! Juanfran gets the cross into the Malaga penalty area, with Griezmann meeting it on the leap, but he couldn't get over it and heads wide of the target.

25’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 2-0 Malaga: What was Kone doing? He headed a cross right into his own danger zone and Gameiro made the most of the mistake, firing home from six yards out.

32’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 2-1 Malaga: Out of nowhere Malaga are back in this game! Sandro found the far corner of the net with a looping finish over Oblak from a tight freekick. Great goal from the Barca man!

38’ KAMENI FLAPS! The Malaga goalkeeper didn't well with that cross at all. He palmed it straight out into the centre of the penalty area, but Koke shot over the crossbar.

41’ BIG SAVE FROM KAMENI! Griezmann was slotted through on goal and smashed a low strike towards the Malaga goal from a tight angle, but the goalkeeper made the save with his foot.

44’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 3-1 Malaga: Atletico Madrid have a third goal! Gameiro has his second. The striker latched on to Griezmann's knock down and fired a finish into the Malaga net.

47’ KAMENI SAVES FROM GAMEIRO! The French striker was in for his hat-trick, but the Malaga goalkeeper made a good save to keep him at bay. That was almost another!

56’ CHANCE FOR GRIEZMANN! The Frenchman darted to the near post to get on the end of a low cross, but Kone makes the block to keep the ball from finding the back of the Malaga net.

64’ RED CARD! Savic has been dismissed for a second bookable offence and Atletico Madrid will play the rest of this match with 10 men. That might have been a harsh booking.

66’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 3-2 Malaga: That has really made things interesting! Camacho gets on the end of a freekick and heads home for Malaga. The away side are right back in this one!

79’ OFF THE CROSSBAR! Carrasco's freekick from the left wing had Kameni beaten, but his effort crashes off the woodwork and Malaga survive. That was close to a fourth goal.

86’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 4-2 Malaga: Atletico Madrid needed a goal to settle this match and Carrasco has provided it! What a sensational goal from the Belgian, finding the net from a tight angle.

89’ RED CARD! Chory is shown a second yellow card for a clip of the heels of Gabi and it's all level in terms of players again.

Kevin Gameiro has scored more goals against Malaga in La Liga than any other team (five).

Yannick Carrasco has scored six goals this season, more than he scored in all of last season.