Godín heads Atlético to second Lazio success

Club Atlético de Madrid set up a UEFA Europa League round of 16 encounter with Be?ikta? JK after following up their 3-1 first-leg triumph against S.S. Lazio with another victory in the Spanish capital. A Lazio player from 1999 to 2003, Diego Simeone is now unbeaten in his first nine games in charge of Atlético, whose sixth successive home win in Europe this season came courtesy of Diego Godín's 48th-minute header. Falcao and Miroslav Klose struck three of the four goals when the sides met a week earlier in Rome, yet with both absent from their teams' respective starting lineups − the latter missed out completely with a back injury − Atlético midfielder Eduardo Salvio looked to set the attacking agenda. The 21-year-old first drew a flying stop from Albano Bizzarri with a shot in the 13th minute and went even closer to opening the scoring shortly afterwards, driving the ball against a post from inside the area. Seeking a way back into the tie, Edoardo Reja's team were largely frustrated in the first half and fell further behind at the beginning of the second when Godín rose above Modibo Diakitè to flash a header in at the far post from Gabi's corner. The inaugural UEFA Europa League winners went in search of more goals, with Koke, from long range, drawing a fine stop from Bizzarri before Adrián López headed another Gabi centre narrowly over. Buoyed by a huge travelling support, the Eagles sought to reward their fans with a consolation goal but Thibaut Courtois was equal to Matuzalem's firm left-footed strike from the edge of the area. That was as good as it got for Lazio while for Atlético a first UEFA competition meeting with Be?ikta? awaits.