Costa scores, sent off on Atletico return

Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa scored on his home debut in a 2-0 win over Getafe and was immediately sent off for an over-zealous celebration as the former Chelsea striker marked a typically eventful return to La Liga Saturday. Real Betis beat fierce city rival Sevilla for the first time in the league since 2012 by winning a thrilling derby 5-3 away from home as Vincenzo Montella lost his first game as a coach in La Liga. Elsewhere, Valencia hit back from two straight defeats by coming from behind to beat Girona 2-1 and hold on to third place in the standing in coach Marcelino's first game back in the dugout after being involved in a serious car crash before Christmas. Atletico are second on 39 points, six behind leader Barcelona who host Levante Sunday. Valencia are third with 37 while Real Madrid, who visit Celta Vigo Sunday and have another game in hand, are fourth on 31.

Diego Costa's La Liga return:

- Booked after 62 minutes - Scores after 68 minutes - Sent off seconds later Welcome back. ? pic.twitter.com/skHWzG9Vmv — Goal (@goal) January 6, 2018

Angel Correa had put Atletico ahead against Getafe in the 18th minute while Costa sent the fans at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium into delirium by scoring the second goal in the 67th, creating a mini-surge as supporters ran down to embrace their returning hero who also played for the club from 2010-2014. Leaving the pitch to celebrate with the fans automatically incurs a booking and, as Costa had already been shown a yellow card for elbowing Djene Dakonam, referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero had no choice but to send him off. Costa, who returned to Atletico from Chelsea for 57m pounds ($77m) in September but could not play until January due to a ban on the club registering new players, will be suspended for Atletico's next Liga game at Eibar. The 29-year-old had scored his first goal in his second spell at Atletico in a 4-0 win at Lleida Esportiu in the King's Cup Wednesday less than six minutes after coming on.

First #ElGranDerbi win away at Sevilla in 6 years ✅ First time scoring 5 in #LaLiga vs Sevilla in club history ✅ First team to beat Sevilla away in #LaLiga in over a year ✅

? @RealBetis_en ? pic.twitter.com/xNB7aph1wq — LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) January 6, 2018

Costa was a heroic figure at Atletico's old home the Vicente Calderon for firing them to their first league title in 18 years in 2014 and he brought much-needed aggression to their front line. Atletico coach Diego Simeone had no complaint about Costa's sending-off. Sevilla coach Montella, who was sacked by AC Milan in November, got off to a nightmare start in La Liga game as his new team were beaten at home for the first time in any competition since November, 2016. Betis, who scored five goals for the first time ever against Sevilla, struck in the opening minute through Fabian Ruiz. They lost their lead twice before halftime but led 4-2 in the second half through Riza Durmisi and Sergio Leon.

16 goals, some BIG wins and a whole lot of drama in today's #LaLigaSantander action. ? pic.twitter.com/eRrH3OhJPy

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) January 6, 2018

Clement Lenglet's goal made for a nail-biting finish but Cristian Tello sealed victory for Betis with a counter-attack goal in stoppage-time, taking his side up to eighth in the standings. RESULTS Sevilla 3 (Ben Yedder 13, Kjaer 40, Lenglet 67) Betis 5 (Fabian 1, Feddal 21, Durmisi 63, Leon 65, Tello 90+5) Atletico 2 (Correa 18, Costa 67) Getafe 0 Valencia 2 (Ramalho 27-og, Parejo 48-P) Girona 1 (Portu 8) Las Palmas 1 (Viera 32) Eibar 2 (Orellana 73, Enrich 77)   POINTS TABLE Teams P W D L GD Pts Barcelona 17 14 3 0 38 45 Atletico 18 11 6 1 19 39 Valencia 18 11 4 3 20 37 Real Madrid 16 9 4 3 16 31