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All over in 10 minutes as Atletico defeat Real Sociedad

Xinhua, April 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

The duel between the two Spanish football clubs with perhaps most links to China ended with Atletico Madrid defeating Real Sociedad 2-0 in the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Atletico have Chinese businessman Wang Jianlin as a shareholder in the club, while Real Sociedad recently signed an agreement to extend their sponsorship agreement with Chinese company Qbao.com.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone decided to rest midfielder Gabi Fernandez, while Fernando Torres replaced the injured Mario Mandzukic for the home side.

Meanwhile David Moyes opted for a conservative approach for the side from San Sebastian, playing without a recognized striker in his side and with Mikel Gonzalez replacing the suspended Inigo Martinez in defense.

It was to be an unhappy return for Mikel, who put Atletico ahead with an own goal after just 3 minutes. Arda Turam had already hit the Real Sociedad post a few moments before with the ball cleared from a corner which the home side opened their account.

Koke sent a near post corner over and Mikel was unlucky to flick the ball into the back of his own net.

It was 2-0 to Atletico after nine minutes after Real Sociedad keeper, Geronimo Rulli, who was unconvincing in the first goal, palmed a Koke shot into the path of Antoine Griezmann to slot home.

Griezmann, who joined Atletico last summer from Real Sociedad, didn't celebrate the goal out of respect for the club where he began his career.

Real Sociedad tried to test Atletico keeper, Jan Oblak on a pair of occasions, but the closest the first half came to another goal was when Koke's cross hit the bar with Rulli struggling.

The second half was a great deal less entertaining, perhaps because of the pressures of having another game at the weekend.

Real Sociedad, still without a specialist striker on the pitch failed to pressure Oblak, while it needed 25 minutes for Atletico to muster as shot, which Turan sent wide.

Oblak was finally called into action to stop a free kick from substitute Esteban Granero's free kick, but it was too little too late for a side which perhaps paid for being over conservative. Endite