Atletico Madrid vs. Deportivo La Coruna: Winners and Losers from La Liga
Atletico Madrid comfortably saw off Deportivo de la Coruna at the Vicente Calderon, running out 3-0 winners.
There was never a moment's doubt they would win this clash, dominating it from the start, and keeping on league leaders Barcelona's trail.
Saul Niguez, Antoine Griezmann and Angel Correa got the goals, but who were the game's winners and losers?
Winner: Saul Niguez
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We'll start with the man who broke the deadlock—Saul Niguez.
He was the club's best player in February, starring in the derby win over Real Madrid, pushing the team on in that game and in others.
Vicente del Bosque must be alert to his performances and consider him for the UEFA Euro 2016 Spain squad.
Sometimes midfielders like Saul can go under the radar if they don't find the net, but the Atletico man has started doing that a lot this season.
Useful, really, considering the problems they have had with strikers this season.
In this match Saul notched his eighth goal of the season, arriving in the box like a freight train to head home.
It was an unstoppable goal and showed off an uncanny ability he has to escape his midfield markers and find space in dangerous areas.
Loser: Yannick Ferreira Carrasco
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Yannick Ferreira Carrasco did not have a bad game here. In fact, he was a useful attacking outlet for Atletico.
That shows how far they have come; that a player like this can leave disappointed after putting in a good performance.
However, he simply couldn't find the net.
He had good efforts, like the one that struck the crossbar from distance in the second half, and bad ones, like his shot that he hit straight at German Lux when well-placed.
That came after a brilliant Koke dummy that left him free and extremely well-placed.
He also had an incisive dribble from the right that ended up in a tame shot trickling wide of the near post.
Atletico have been in the goals of late, but Carrasco only has one in his last 10 games.
Fans chanted his name as he was substituted with 10 minutes to go, but if he can add more end product, he will become an even more crucial player for the club.
Winner: Manuel Pablo
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It's not often you see players over 35 plying their trade in the top flight...much less someone who has already reached 40.
Full-back Manuel Pablo, a club legend, started his first La Liga match of the season and did not embarrass himself or seem out of place. He was withdrawn after 57 minutes, because of an injury.
The club legend, who has played for Deportivo since 1998, will be missed when he eventually retires.
Loser: Victor Sanchez
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The Deportivo de la Coruna coach is having a rough time of it right now.
He headed into this game with his top scorer Lucas Perez out, along with three of his first-choice defenders.
His reserve striker, Jona, has not scored a single goal this season. The forward bent one wide of the target after a good cut-in from the left. Close but no cigar.
Depor finished the game with three players having taken knocks, in Manuel Pablo, goalkeeper German Lux and defender Rober.
Victor Sanchez's side are not clear of the relegation scrap either, at seven points ahead of Granada, who are 18th with 26 on the board.
Although there are worse teams than Deportivo in the division below them, it will still be a worry for the manager.
Winner: Angel Correa
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Angel Correa often shines as a substitute for Atletico without scoring, but finding the net is the most important thing for a striker to do.
He struck the third against Deportivo, finishing explosively after a brilliant first touch to control Gabi's long through-ball.
Correa still has a lot to do to convince his coach, Diego Simeone, he is worthy of a regular place in the team, but there's no better way to do it than blast the ball into the top corner with this much aplomb.
However, Simeone still praised Luciano Vietto after the game—the striker who played alongside hotshot Antoine Griezmann.
"Vietto's presence allows us to have more team-play," noted the coach after the game, per Spanish newspaper AS.
