The World Cup break did some good for Atl&eacute;tico Madrid.
Atl&eacute;tico ended a three-game winless streak in the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/no-spain-but-laliga-well-represented-in-fifa-world-cup-final-23260882" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Spanish league</a> with a 2-0 victory over last-place Elche on Thursday in its first match back after the World Cup stoppage.
Jo&atilde;o F&eacute;lix and &Aacute;lvaro Morata scored second-half goals for Atl&eacute;tico, which moved back into the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/liverpool-eyes-cl-spots-with-3rd-straight-league-win-23262519" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Champions League</a> places with the victory at the Metropolitano stadium.
The team had a great attitude, Atl&eacute;tico coach Diego Simeone said. "It was a very good match. We have to keep working to keep improving going forward.
Atl&eacute;tico went into the World Cup break with a victory against fifth-tier Almaz&aacute;n in the first round of the Copa del Rey, but Simeone's team had not won in five straight matches in all competitions before that, including two in a row in the group stage of the Champions League, which left it without a place in any European competition for the rest of the season.
Atl&eacute;tico had also beaten fourth-tier Arenteiro in the second round of the Copa del Rey after the World Cup.
F&eacute;lix opened the scoring with a header in the 56th minute and Morata added to the lead in the 74th with a shot that bounced off a defender and over the goalkeeper.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/cristiano-ronaldo-resumes-training-at-real-madrid-amidst-search-for-new-club-23260873" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Cristiano Ronaldo resumes training at Real Madrid amidst search for new club</a>
Morata went to the ground after the shot and only found out he was the one who scored while celebrating with his teammates.
I thought it was (Antoine) Griezmann who had scored off the rebound, he said. I was on the ground, had no idea.
Morata was with Spain at the World Cup, and F&eacute;lix was with Portugal. Their Argentina teammates at Atl&eacute;tico&nbsp; &Aacute;ngel Correa, Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo De Paul&nbsp; were honored before the match against Elche for their world title in Qatar. None of them played as they rejoined the group late.
Pablo Barrios, 19, made his debut as a starter for Atl&eacute;tico.
Both teams played with 10 men as Elche saw Gonzalo Verd&uacute; sent off just before halftime and Atl&eacute;tico's Mario Hermoso was red-carded in the 53rd. Elche also lost Domingos Quina with a red card in the 90th.
Elche, debuting coach Pablo Mach&iacute;n, remained the only winless club after 15 league matches.
OTHER RESULTS
Fifth-place Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 at sixth-place Real Betis, while Girona drew 2-2 with visiting Rayo Vallecano.
Leader Barcelona hosts city rival Espanyol on Saturday. Second-place Real Madrid, two points behind the Catalan club, visits Real Valladolid on Friday.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
 <script async="async" data-cfasync="false" src="//pl23789885.revenuecpmgate.com/7445444aea29efc3d061cbd866026c06/invoke.js"></script>
 <div id="container-7445444aea29efc3d061cbd866026c06"></div>

Atlético Madrid ended a three-game winless streak in the Spanish league with a 2-0 victory over last-place Elche on Thursday in its first match back after the World Cup stoppage

Atlético defeats Elche to end winless run in Spanish league

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Sports / Football / Article / Atlético defeats Elche to end winless run in Spanish league

Atlético defeats Elche to end winless run in Spanish league

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast