Morata scores again as Atletico top Alaves to tie record of 14 straight home wins in Spanish league

MADRID: Red-hot Alvaro Morata scored yet another goal and Atletico Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 for their 14th straight Spanish league victory at home on Sunday, tying their longest winning home streak.

Morata scored his seventh goal in his last seven games with Atletico, which matched its winning run from a decade ago. Diego Simeone's team had also won 14 in a row at home between May 2012 and February 2013, while still playing at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

“It’s no coincidence that we've achieved this streak at home, where our fans make us feel stronger and more comfortable,” said Rodrigo Riquelme, who also scored for Atletico on Sunday.

The victory at the Metropolitano Stadium moved Atletico to third place with 25 points, three behind both Girona and Real Madrid. Madrid came from behind to win 2-1 at Barcelona in the first league “clasico” of the season on Saturday, while Girona defeated Celta Vigo 1-0 on Friday.

Atletico have a game in hand because a home match against Sevilla in September was suspended because of bad weather.

“We have to stay on the throttle because the teams ahead of us are going very strongly,” Simeone said. “We have to keep doing our own thing.”

Simeone coached his 450th league game for Atletico, the most for any manager in the league with a single club.

Atletico have won nine of their last 11 league games against Alaves, who stayed in 17th place, just outside the relegation zone. Alaves' winless streak in the league has reached seven games, with four losses and three draws.

Riquelme put Atletico ahead in the 26th minute and Morata added to his scoring streak in first-half stoppage.

Alaves had no shots on goal until Ander Guevara scored deep in second-half stoppage time.

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