Atletico Madrid moved four points clear in third place of the La Liga table after fighting to a 2-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna.
The visitors opened the scoring after just five minutes when Antoine Griezmann beat the offside trap before producing a confident finish to beat the goalkeeper.
Deportivo responded well without creating anything of note, but, midway through the half, Griezmann netted his second after capitalising on a loose ball inside the penalty area before finding the bottom corner.
The second goal stifled any momentum that Deportivo had been building, and Atletico looked increasingly comfortable in possession as the half ticked to a close.
After the restart, the pattern of the match remained the same as the home side struggled to threaten the Atletico defence, with the visitors being content to target a third on the break.
With 25 minutes remaining, Deportivo finally threatened a goal through Juan Dominguez, but, despite making contact with Alex Bergantinos's cross, he could not force the ball either side of Jan Oblak.
Shortly afterwards, Fernando Torres and Raul Garcia were denied by goalkeeper Fabricio Agosto and, after that double save kept Deportivo in the game, they halved the deficit.
Defender Sidnei, not normally associated with surging runs up the pitch, powered his way into a threatening area before providing the cross for Oriol Riera to convert at the near post.
Deportivo pushed for an equaliser, but their direct approach was easily dealt with by Atletico's centre-backs as the home side suffered a defeat which leaves them outside of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Darren Plant
