Europe: Felix and Morata fire Atletico Madrid up to third

SPAIN

Atletico Madrid moved up to third in LaLiga with a 2-0 win over bottom club Elche, who finished with nine players at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Elche defender Gonzalo Verdu was shown a red card at the end of the first half following a VAR review for a foul on Alvaro Morata.

Atletico were also then down to 10 men just before the hour when defender Mario Hermoso was shown a second yellow card.

Joao Felix made the breakthrough in the 56th minute when he converted a cross from Antoine Griezmann, returning to club action after helping France reach the World Cup final.

Morata's deflected effort added a second with 15 minutes left before Elche midfielder Domingos Quina picked up two late yellow cards to be sent off as Atletico moved a point ahead of Real Sociedad.

Real Betis drop to sixth after a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao, finishing with 10 men after the late dismissal of defender Luiz Felipe.

Earlier on Thursday, Girona and Rayo Vallecano drew 2-2.

FRANCE

In Ligue 1, Marseille thrashed Toulouse 6-1 to move up into third place, with Sead Kolasinac, Dimitri Payet and Nuno Tavares among the scorers.

Lens, though, missed the chance to close up on leaders Paris St Germain as they were held to a goalless draw at Nice.

Elsewhere, Reims beat top-four hopefuls Rennes 3-1 and Montpellier won 2-0 at Lorient.