Atletico top Valladolid, continue pursuit of Real Madrid

MADRID: Atletico Madrid won’t slow down in their pursuit of Real Madrid for second place in the Spanish league.

Atletico continued their strong push on Sunday by picking up their eighth win in nine matches with a 5-2 victory at Valladolid.

Third-place Atletico scored three times in the first half and added two late goals in a result that kept Diego Simeone’s team two points behind city rival Madrid with six rounds remaining. Madrid beat Almeria 4-2 on Saturday at home. Second place is especially important because it guarantees a spot in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Atletico’s only recent setback was a 1-0 loss at leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou two rounds ago. Barcelona beat Real Betis 4-0 at home on Saturday and has a comfortable 11-point lead over Madrid entering the final stretch.

“We have good momentum, we’ve been competing very well,” Atletico defender José María Giménez said. “There is still a lot of league left and we have to stay on this path.”

Atletico scored through Nahuel Molina in the 20th minute, Gimenez in the 24th, Alvaro Morata in the 38th, an own-goal by Joaquín Fernández in the 86th and Memphis Depay in stoppage time.

Valladolid — sitting in 15th place, four points from the relegation zone — scored with a penalty kick converted by Cyle Larin in the 42nd and with a goal from Sergio Escudero in the 74th. It was the second loss in a row for the team owned by former Brazil striker Ronaldo.

“We were doing well with a 3-0 lead but they suddenly got back into the game and made it difficult for us,” Simeone said.

Atletico are eight points ahead of fourth-place Real Sociedad, which hold the final Champions League spot.

Valencia failed to distance themselves from the relegation zone after losing