Atletico Madrid maintain that top scorer Diego Costa was not seriously injured despite being stretchered off after scoring late on in Sunday’s 2-0 La Liga win at Getafe.
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caption:Diego Costa injured himself while scoring Atletico Madrid's second goal of the game.
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Costa, 25, scored the clinching goal for Atletico, stretching to meet a ball from Adrian Lopez, before knocking it over the line and then crashing into the post.
Medical staff immediately rushed to the scene, and the striker was carried slowly from the pitch in obvious pain with his hands covering his face.
TV pictures showed blood running from a wound on his shin, further raising fears of a serious injury -- or at least that Costa would be out of the league game at Elche and perhaps the upcoming Champions League semifinal tie with Chelsea.
However, Atletico soon played down any worries of a long-term injury by confirming on Twitter after the final whistle that the issue was not too serious.
Por suerte Diego Costa sólo tiene una herida tras golpearse con el poste #AupaAtleti
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) April 13, 2014
“Fortunately Diego Costa just has a cut after colliding with the post,” the tweet read.
In his postmatch news conference Atletico coach Diego Simeone also played down fears of an extended absence, saying he had seen Costa in the dressing room and there was no need to be too worried.
“Costa is fine, he is happy,” Simeone said. “He made a great effort throughout. He has a cut, but it's not a big deal.”
Showing how the club were keen to play down any fears over the injury, Simeone’s press officer Jose Luis Pasques also took to Twitter soon after the final whistle.
Sólo arreglar el poste.
— José Luis Pasques (@Pepepasques) April 13, 2014
“Relax guys,” Pasques wrote. “It’s all OK. Just need to fix the post.”
The result stretched Atletico’s lead in the table to three points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, and four above third-placed Barcelona, with just five La Liga games remaining.