Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has this afternoon been sanctioned with a hefty ban, following the ever-controversial hitman’s dismissal versus Barcelona last weekend.
Barcelona 2-0 Atletico
Diego Simeone’s Colchoneros travelled to the Camp Nou on Saturday night, for a La Liga showdown.
The visitors headed into proceedings aware that defeat would, for all intents and purposes, see Barca reclaim the Spanish top-flight title.
And, when all was said and done, take another huge step towards their latest league crown was precisely what the Blaugrana managed, courtesy of a deserved 2-0 win.
Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi bagged the goals in the 85th and 86th minutes respectively, sending Ernesto Valverde’s men a hefty 11 points clear of Atletico at the top of La Liga.
Costa’s moment of madness
While it was Barca who eventually emerged with all 3 points, a frantic opening half-hour to proceedings at the Camp Nou last Saturday actually saw Atletico match their illustrious hosts all over the pitch.
This was until a since widely-scrutinized incident with 28 minutes on the clock, which completely turned the tide of the clash.
The moment in question saw Diego Costa react angrily to a challenge in the middle of the park, with the former Chelsea man’s subsequent outburst at referee Jesus Gil Manzano having seen the official show little hesitation in handing Costa his marching orders
Manzano’s match report, published online in the aftermath of the matchup, revealed precisely what the Atleti striker had shouted
Costa sanctioned
And, as has since been confirmed this afternoon, Costa’s crude remarks have landed him in hot water, with the 30-year-old set to spend the remainder of the season in the stands, having been slapped with an 8-game ban:
