Shoots, scores, leaves: Diego Costa sent off on La Liga return for Atlético Madrid

• Striker sent off after jumping into stands to celebrate goal
• Had been booked six minutes earlier for elbowing opponent

Diego Costa enjoyed an eventful return to La Liga action for Atlético Madrid as he was dismissed for a second bookable offence after jumping into the stands to celebrate scoring against Getafe. The former Chelsea striker is back in the Spanish capital after three years at Stamford Bridge and could not contain his excitement, despite already being in the book when he fired in Atlético’s second, so jumped up to celebrate with the fans.

Brazilian-born Costa had scored in the Copa del Rey in midweek but was still obviously overwhelmed by being back at a club where he has spent the majority of his career. Costa was cautioned in the 62nd minute for an elbow on Djené Dakonam and was expulsed from the pitch just seven minutes later after reacquainting himself with the home supporters in the aftermath of getting on the end of a cross to double the home team’s lead. Fellow Atlético players did their best to drag Costa away from the fans but the outcome of a second yellow was inevitable once he had spent so long enjoying the adulation, as he eventually walked back to the pitch to the the referee holding the red card aloft.

Continue reading...