Madrid: Atletico Madrid unleashed Diego Costa in La Liga on Saturday and the controversial centre-forward scored the winner before being sent off in a 2-0 home win over regional rivals Getafe.

Atletico’s transfer ban ended last week and Costa was playing his first league game since rejoining the Spanish club from Chelsea.

The 2-0 win, in which France star Antoine Griezmann set up the opener for Angel Correa on 18 minutes, lifts Atletico into second, six points behind Barcelona who play Levante on Sunday.

It also took Atletico five points clear of third placed Valencia.

Costa had been lively the whole match and received a yellow card for a foul in the 62nd minute. Five minutes later he met a low cross to put his side 2-0 up and immediately earned a second yellow for leaping into the stands to celebrate with fans.

The brooding striker looked totally perplexed by the decision but his borderline style of play may inject some much needed bite to the Atletico forward line.

“His presence gives us speed and directness. And he frightens opponents too,” said Atletico Coach Diego Simeone after the game.

“The referee was unable to consider the emotional aspect (of Costa’s behaviour), the rules are the rules,” he said.

Simeone’s side looked as hard to beat as ever -- with just eight goals conceded and one defeat in 18 league games -- but they have scored only 27 with Griezmann struggling to find the net, hitting just five league goals so far.

Atletico haven’t won La Liga since Costa left for London, where he won two Premier League titles in three years after rifling the Madrid club to their tenth league championship with 27 goals.

Valencia beat Girona

In a later match, Valencia came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Girona in their La Liga encounter at the Mestalla.

Cristian Portu opened the scoring for the visitors after just eight minutes by heading the ball beyond goalkeeper Neto from Johan Mojica’s cross.

However, Los Che were level just before the half-hour mark when Goncalo Guedes’s effort came off Girona defender Jonas Ramalho en route to the back of the net.

Marcelino Garcia Toral’s charges were able to take control of the game and weighed in with more chances but were unable to add to their tally come the break.

Early in the second half, Valencia were given the opportunity to take the lead from the spot after Jose Luis Gaya was brought down in the box.

Daniel Parejo stepped up and duly drilled home from 12 yards out, the hosts able to hold on for all three points against the Catalan side.

The result cements Valencia’s hold on third place in the La Liga table, keeping them six points clear of fourth-placed Real Madrid, while Girona stay 10th in the standings.

Agencies