Atletico Madrid secured their place in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with little fuss as they beat Real Oviedo 2-0 at Estadio Calos Tartiere on Wednesday.
The second-tier hosts arguably had the better opportunities, particularly in the first half, but Atletico were comfortable for much of the game as they avoided an upset.
Marcos Llorente landed the decisive blow in the first half after a period of Oviedo pressure, with Antoine Griezmann – who claimed two assists in the weekend win over Elche – brilliantly setting him up.
Atletico allowed Oviedo to enjoy plenty of possession after the break, but the visitors looked even more comfortable than before and finished the hosts off through substitute Pablo Barrios late on.
Alvaro Morata fired just wide and Llorente forced Tomeu Nadal into a necessary save as Atletico began with intent, but Oviedo soon settled and created chances of their own.
Samuel Obeng was their chief threat but put an inviting Hugo Rama cross into the side-netting from close range and volleyed over 12 yards out either side of Rodrigo Tarin drilling agonisingly past Jan Oblak's left-hand post.
Atletico capitalised in the 24th minute, Llorente getting a little lucky as his scuffed effort beat Nadal after Griezmann's gorgeous first-time pass – a cushioned volley – released him through on goal.
Borja Baston, an Atletico academy product, came on for Oviedo at half-time and saw an early effort fly just off target.
But the game was put beyond doubt seven minutes from time as Barrios – who also scored in the previous round – collected Angel Correa's well-weighted lay-off and finished through Nadal's legs.
Guardiola: Making history is 'extra motivation' for Man City
Pep Guardiola believes making more history is "extra motivation" for Manchester City as they prepare for the FA Cup final against Manchester United on Saturday.
City became the first side to win the English top-flight in four successive seasons after edging Arsenal to the title on the final day by two points.
On Saturday, they have the chance to win an unprecedented back-to-back league and FA Cup doubles against United if they win the FA Cup.
Guardiola says making history is a benefit for his side, but they should already have all the motivation they need to win at Wembley.
"If history gives us a chance to do something not done before, try it," Guardiola said.
"Maybe [it will be] extra motivation for players. I didn't speak about this specifically to the players. Playing for a win, a trophy, is enough.
"No teams have done four in a row; none have done back-to-back doubles. That is because it is not easy.
"We are going to London to perform well. [It's the] same routine, not forgotten - defending our crown one year until next season.
"We are happy, satisfied. Saturday we will go for it with all we have. I want to be beaten because they were better, not because we weren't who we are."
City finished the Premier League season 31 points better off than their city rivals as United finished in their lowest-ever league position in the competition.
Despite the vast difference between the sides this season, Guardiola backed the Red Devils to bounce back.
"The respect is there," he added. "[You] can't compare, the last Premier League to first Premier League.
"I won't compare United to another period, it's unfair. Our team is here, maybe tomorrow [it is] different. It can be different, nothing is eternal. I'm sure United will work to come up again."
Atlanta United v Los Angeles FC: Pineda insists Five Stripes 'on the right path'
Gonzalo Pineda insists Atlanta United "are on the right path" as they look to get back to winning ways in MLS.
The Five Stripes are 12th in the Eastern Conference following a run of eight matches without victory.
Although, they enjoyed a reprieve in the U.S. Open Cup last time out, defeating Charleston Battery on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.
And Pineda hopes his side can build on that momentum when they welcome Los Angeles to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"I think we are on the right path," he said. "I think it is really encouraging for the team, for the mentality of the team, to win.
"There are many positives out of that. We have to hold onto that positivity, and the mentality of the players that fought and put that together on Saturday."
"I think that, especially being at home, we need to make sure we are on the front foot right away," midfielder Dax McCarty added.
"Obviously, our stadium is such a fortress. When you score an early goal, you get everyone excited and the other team feels that pressure, which is such a benefit."
By contrast, LAFC are fifth in the West and on a four-match winning streak across all competitions – during which they have scored 11 goals and conceded just once.
"The team is in a good way – winning games, scoring goals and not conceding – and we'd like to continue that," head coach Steve Cherundolo said.
"We feel good about the moment we're in, and our players are confident.
"The players have shown an amazing response [to their defeat by San Jose Earthquakes at the start of the month]. We were shooting ourselves in the foot by making some mistakes in portions of the field where we don't usually do that.
"The message was that we are really in control of our own destiny, which is a great place to be."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Atlanta United – Thiago Almada
Atlanta will be hoping for inspiration from the likes of Almada as they look to end their winless streak.
The Argentina international has scored in two of their last three league games on home soil.
Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga
Bouanga scored both goals in LAFC’s 2-0 win over St. Louis City last time out in MLS.
He has now found the net 33 times since the start of last season (including play-offs), seven more than any other player during that time.
MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC
Only once in their MLS history have Atlanta endured a longer winless streak, going 12 straight games without victory between May and August 2021.
Meanwhile, LAFC have won successive games to nil for the first time during the regular season since August 2022.
That came after they recorded just one victory while keeping a clean sheet in their previous 21 such matches.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta United: 38.2%
Los Angeles FC: 32.8%
Draw: 29.0%
Al-Riyadh 2-2 Al-Nassr: Laporte sent off for punch as Al-Nemer salvages point
Former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte was sent off for punching Mohammed Al-Aqel on the arm as Al-Nassr played out a 2-2 draw with Al-Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League.
Meshari Al-Nemer's 97th-minute strike salvaged a point for Al-Nassr, who had trailed for over half the game and played with a one-man disadvantage for over half an hour.
Otavio had put Al-Nassr ahead only for Andre Gray to drag the hosts level, before Al-Aqel gave David Ospina no chance with a terrific overhead kick to make it 2-1.
Al-Nassr's position was put in further jeopardy when Laporte was sent off following a bizarre off-the-ball incident which saw him grab and punch Al-Aqel on the elbow, while Cristiano Ronaldo came up with a glaring miss from Sadio Mane's pass across the six-yard box.
Al-Nemer levelled at the death for Al-Nassr, though they still sit some 14 points adrift of champions Al-Hilal, who could complete an unbeaten season against Al-Wehda on Monday.
Data Debrief: Laporte's horror show
It was a game to forget for Laporte, whose bizarre punch on Al-Aqel put Al-Nassr up against it versus a team still in danger of relegation.
Laporte did not attempt a single tackle in the game while his four duels contested were the joint-fewest of every outfield starter (alongside Khalid Al-Shuwayyi). He was also sent off in Al-Nassr's AFC Champions League quarter-final tie against Al Ain in March.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
