Wins for Atlético and Porto, heavy defeat for Leverkusen

Like Club, Atlético Madrid had a good dress rehearsal for next Tuesday's Champions League clash between them. Diego Simeone's team won easily 0-2 at the Sevilla field. FC Porto also took the three points, after a 4-1 win against Braga. Leverkusen, on the other hand, remains in the corner where the blows fall: it went down 4-0 at Bayern Munich.

Sevilla - Atlético Madrid 0-2

After the derby defeat against Real and the international break, Atlético Madrid had another tough game on the schedule with the trip to Sevilla, just before next Tuesday's Champions League match against Club Brugge. It ended up being an easy 0-2 victory after goals from Llorente and Morata.

Against a troubled Sevilla that could only win once this season, Atlético was not troubled at any point. The first chance of the game was immediately a great one for Morata, but on a pass from Koke, he kicked just over the crossbar. It was again the captain who played Llorente on the edge of the penalty area on the half-hour mark, and this time the nets did shake. Llorente kicked the ball in out of Bono's reach. Sevilla could not threaten Oblak; on the contrary, it was Atlético that had chances for a second goal, but Morata and Llorente lacked sharpness.

After the break, the same pattern of play prevailed, and after misses in Carmona's defense, Morata sealed Sevilla's fate on the hour with a beautiful lob over Bono. The Moroccan goalkeeper was the only reason the score did not go higher, as he saved chances by Cunha and Griezmann. With fifteen minutes left on the clock, En-Nesyri scored the home side's only chance, Oblak had to make one appearance in the match (KV).

Atlético: Oblak, Mandava, Gimenez, Savic, Molina (87' Joao Felix), Witsel, Cunha (72' Correa), Saul Niguez (61' Carrasco), Koke (73' Kondogbia), Llorente, Morata (61' Griezmann).
Goals: 29' Llorente (0-1), 57' Morata (0-2).

FC Porto - SC Braga 4-1

FC Porto won the battle for second place from Braga by large numbers. It became 4-1 with goals by Evanilson and Eustaquio in the first half, after halftime Pepe and Wenderson Galeno scored for the home team.

Both teams kept each other balanced in the match beginning, but after half an hour the home team was able to make the difference after some good attacking actions. Striker Taremi kept both the goalkeeper and Braga's defense busy in the sixteen, releasing Evanilson at the far post. On a pass from Eustaquio, the Brazilian only had to push the ball in with his chest. Immediately afterwards, the 2-0 was already on the board. When Braga lost the ball, Pepe played it to Eustaquio, who headed it past Braga goalkeeper Matheus. Bruno Costa could have made the decision on the stroke of half-time, but his shot was parried by the goalkeeper.

In the second half, the visitors went in search of the connection. However, a powerful long-distance shot by Horta hit the crossbar. It was Porto defender Pepe who finally brought Braga back to 2-1 with an owngoal. But Porto soon corrected the situation. Taremi served the follow up midfielder Pepe who kicked the 3-1 into the nets. Braga was then left with ten men after goalkeeper Matheus Taremi brought down outside the penalty area. Match played and deep into injury time, substitute Wenderson Galeno finally scored the 4-1 on a pass from Veron.

With this victory, FC Porto climbs to second place behind leaders Benfica. On Tuesday, it hosts Leverkusen on the third matchday of the Champions League group stage. (KN)

FC Porto: Diogo Costa - Wendell (85' Zaidu Sanusi), David Carmo, Pepe, Rodrigo Conceicao (78' Marko Grujic) - Stephen Eustaquio (85' Gabriel Veron), Mateus Uribe, Pepe, Bruno Costa (66' Otavio) - Mehdi Taremi, Evanilson (75' Wenderson Galeno).
Goals: 32' Evanilson (1-0), 34' Eustaquio (2-0), 55' Pepe (2-1, owngoal), 63' Pepe (3-1), 96' Wenderson Galeno (4-1).

Bayern Munich - Bayer Leverkusen 4-0

Bayer Leverkusen remains in the corner where the blows are falling. Bayern Munich proved several sizes too strong and beat Leverkusen by heavy 4-0 scores. The team now stands in penultimate place in the German Bundesliga.

The match could not have started worse for the team of Odilon Kossounou, who played the entire match himself. After only three minutes, Sane, on a cross from the ubiquitous Musiala, brought the record champion into the lead. Leverkusen could do little in return. Just after the opening quarter, Musiala deemed his moment had come: with a hard shot he doubled the lead. Even before halftime, Mane also scored after yet another assist from Musiala.

After the break, there were not many more chances. Coach Seoane tried changing the offensive line, but it did not help. In the closing stages of the match, things got worse for "die Werkself. Hradecky kicked the ball completely the wrong way, giving Muller the fourth goal. 4-0 immediately also became the final score. Bayern Munich thus averted a minor crisis after four games without a win, Bayer Leverkusen in turn is sinking deeper and deeper into the relegation swamp. (EV)

Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky, Bakker (46' Hincapie), Tapsoba, Tah, Kossounou, Andrich, Demirbay, Diaby (75' Hlozek), Hudson-Odoi (61' Adli), Frimpong (46' Aranguiz), Schick (61' Azmoun).
Goals: 3' Sane (1-0), 17' Musiala (2-0), 39' Mane (3-0), 84' Muller (4-0).