体坛英语新闻：Atletico keep up the pressure, while Malaga slip up at home to Almeria

MADRID, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Reigning BBVA Primera Liga Champions, Atletico Madrid took advantage of the fact that title rivals, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona do not play their respective matches until Sunday to pressure them both with a 3-1 win at home to Levante.

With returning hero Fernando Torres watching from the Directors' box, Antoine Griezmann showed Torres will have to work for his place in the side by scoring Atletico' s first two goals, which came after 18 and 47 minutes.

The first was a header from a left-wing cross, while the second came after the Levante keeper had saved Mario Mandzukic' s header from Juanfran' s cross from the right.

Nabil El Zhar got Levante back into the game just after the hour with a poacher' s goal as Atletico failed to clear a corner and Atletico were forced into the back foot as the visitors pushed forward.

However, Diego Godin' s headed goal following another set piece 10 minutes from time killed the game off and allows Atletico to move level on points with Barca, four behind Real Madrid.

Nico Pareja' s free kick gave Sevilla a 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo, who have now gone seven games without a goal. Nevertheless the home fans were unhappy after their side failed to take advantage of the fact Celta had to play for 70 minutes with a man less after Carlos Planas was sent off for fighting.

Elche and Villarreal produced an exciting game in Elche' s Martin Valero Stadium as Elche fought back from 2-0 down.

Vietto and Uche had put Villarreal 2-0 up midway through the first half and things looked grim for Elche, but the side that is currently bottom of the table fought back before the break through Jonathas and Victor Rodriguez.

Both sides looked for a winning goal in the second half with perhaps Elche deserving one more, but neither side was able to break the deadlock.

The two late kick offs saw Ivan Cavalhero' s first half goal give Deportivo la Coruna a 1-0 win at home to Athletic Club Bilbao, while Tomer Hemed scored twice, the second from the penalty spot, to give struggling Almeria a surprise 2-1 win away to high flying Malaga.