A penalty apiece from Diego Costa and David Villa condemned Granada CF to defeat and earned Club Atlético de Madrid their tenth win in 11 Liga games this season.

Costa was presented with the opportunity to score his 12th league goal of the campaign seven minutes before the break when Granada captain Diego Mainz barged into the back of Villa.

Diego Costa is congratulated by strike partner David Villa

The Spain striker rubber-stamped the outcome with a little under a quarter of an hour remaining, picking himself up to beat Roberto from the spot after he had been fouled by Jeison Murillo. Odion Ighalo's  late header, a minute after Atlético defender Filipe Luis had been dismissed for a second booking, was mere consolation.

The victory once again means the Rojiblancos close to within a point of leaders FC Barcelona, who host local rivals RCD Espanyol on Friday. Getafe CF, meanwhile, remain sixth after inflicting fourth-placed Villarreal CF's first reverse at El Madrigal this term, Ciprian Marica and Pablo Sarabia on target.

Athletic Club, who sandwich those teams, rallied from two down to draw with mid-table Elche CF. There were no goals between Real Betis Bal

ompié and Levante UD.