Atlético Madrid registered their tenth consecutive victory over Elche as they prevailed 2-0 at the Estadio Martínez Valero. The result also sees them end a two-game losing streak away from home.The deposed champions knew a victory here would all but secure them a place in the Champions League next term, and they started positively. Matheus Cunha should have at least worked Édgar Badía between the Elche sticks, instead of lashing over the bar from just inside the area, but Elche were not without a threat themselves. They were particularly dangerous from corners, and Lucas Boyé will be disappointed not to have hit the target with a free header, while Pedro Bigas also nodded narrowly wide from a set-piece delivery.However, it was Los Rojiblancos who went into the break ahead, thanks to a lightning-quick move. A diagonal ball was played into left-back Renan Lodi, who had replaced Sime Vrsaljko after just five minutes due to injury, and the Brazil international played an inch-perfect ball into Cunha. This time, the latter made no mistake, prodding past Badía from close range.Elche manager Francisco made a triple change in the 58th minute, but Los Franjiverdes found themselves two behind soon after. Once again, a swift build-up unlocked their defence, as Rodrigo De Paul played a neat one-two with Antoine Greizmann before tapping into the bottom corner. As the final whistle approached, Luis Suárez almost extended the advantage from close range, but found the crossbar with his strike instead of the back of the net.Diego Simeone’s men are now six points clear of Real Betis in fifth with just two games remaining, meaning only a total collapse will see them drop out of the top four. While Elche will have wanted to cause Atléti more problems tonight, they have almost reached their main objective of survival, as they sit six points above Mallorca in 18th.Elsewhere, Mallorca secured a vital point in their pursuit of La Liga survival as they held Sevilla to a tightly-contested stalemate at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, extending the hosts’ disappointing home form to one win in five league matches.The draw leaves Mallorca two points adrift of safety with two matches remaining. Meanwhile, Sevilla have Champions League qualification firmly in their hands with a five-point buffer over fifth-placed Real Betis.LA LIGA – ROUND 36TuesdayValencia – Betis 0-3 (0-0)/Willian Jose 57, Canales 87, Iglesias 90/Granada – Ath.Bilbao 1-0 (1-0)/Collado 35/Barcelona – Celta 3-1 (2-0)/Depay 30, Aubameyang 41, 48 – Aspas 50/WednesdayAlaves – Espanyol 2-1 (1-1)/De La Fuente 7, Escalante 59 – De Tomas 14 pen/Osasuna – Getafe 1-1 (1-1)/Oier 9 – Torro 20 og/Sevilla – Mallorca 0-0Elche – Atl.Madrid 0-2 (0-1)/Cunha 28, De Paul 62/Thursday20:00: (1.67) Sociedad (3.70) Cadiz (6.25)21:00: (5.10) Rayo Vallecano (3.60) Villareal (1.80)22:30: (1.55) Real Madrid (4.40) Levante (6.50)***odds are subject to change
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