Atletico Madrid welcomed Elche to the Vicente Calderon on Saturday looking to make it 10 league games unbeaten.
The home side dominated the first 45 minutes, but could not make the breakthrough.
Goals did arrive in the second, however, with and Raul Garcia adding to Antoine Griezmann's brace to secure all the points for Atletico.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
4.52pmAfternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Spanish capital as Atletico Madrid welcome Elche. Both sides are in decent form, but Atletico will enter as the strong favourites and will hope to bounce back from their Champions League disappointment during the week.
4.53pmAtletico were knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday after losing 1-0 to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Conceding in the 88th minute will have been difficult to take, but Atletico must quickly realign their focus on league matters. They are currently nine games unbeaten in Spain's top flight, while a total of 69 points from 32 games has left them in third position.
4.54pmTruth be told, Diego Simeone's side are not in the title race, with Barcelona now 12 points clear, but Atletico are now four points clear of fourth-place Valencia, who occupied third for a spell earlier this month. At home, Atleti have been very strong in the league this season – winning 13 of their 16 games and losing just once. Last time out, meanwhile, they won 2-1 at struggling Deportivo La Coruna.
4.56pmElche, however, will enter this match full of confidence following back-to-back league victories. They won 2-0 at basement side Cordoba on April 12, before beating David Moyes's Real Sociedad last Monday. As a result, Fran Escriba's side sit 14th in the table – six points clear of the bottom three.
4.57pmIn terms of the recent meetings between the two sides, Atletico were 2-0 winners in the corresponding match last season, before recording the same score in the reverse fixture earlier in this campaign. It is a big ask for the visitors to pick up anything from this particular match and they have only won on two of their 46 Primera trips to Spain's capital – losing 36 times in the process.
4.58pmTEAMS:
ATLETI: Oblak; Gamez, Gimenez, Godin, Siqueira; Gabi, Tiago, Koke; Garcia, Torres, Griezmann
ELCHE: Tyton; Samu, Galvez, Roco, Cisma; Adrian, Mosquera; Coro, Rodrigues, Faycal; Jonathas
0 minHere we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Can Elche shock the Spanish champions at the Vicente Calderon? The away side get the first half underway here.
2 minAs expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes, with Gabi and Koke exchanging passes in the middle of the park. Let's hope for a cracking game!
4 minHalf-chance for the home side as Koke slides a super pass into Torres, who drives through on goal, but Cisma is back to make a smart challenge. Atletico are passing and probing in forward areas here.
6 minNot too much to report in terms of clear opportunities in the opening six minutes, but it is an end-to-end game at the moment, with Elche looking for that through pass to Jonathas, who has proved his threat this season. The visitors have the look of a team that have won their last two in the league.
8 minJesus Gamez has been extremely advanced for the home side in the opening eight minutes, but the right-back has been unable to find a cross of real quality thus far. Bright early exchanges here.
10 minSAVE! Wonderful chance for the away side to take the lead as Adrian finds a yard of space outside the box, but his low effort is just deflected wide of the post. Atletico under pressure here!
12 minCHANCE! Opportunity for the home side this time as Garcia meets a deep cross at the far post, but his effort is saved by Tyton. Chances at either end as the game starts to open up!
14 minThis is more open than Atletico boss Simeone might have hoped at this stage of the match, but Elche are giving it a real go. Even the home supporters seem a little concerned by Elche's counter-attack.
16 minAtletico force a free kick just outside the box as Cisma brings Torres to the ground...
18 min... Koke delivers the resulting set piece towards Gabi, who curls one towards the far post, but Tyton is out of his goal to punch clear. One off the training ground, but it did not work on that occasion.
19 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side to take the lead as Garcia meets a super cross from Siqueira, but Tyton is once again on hand to make the save. Tiago then meets the resulting corner, but his header was always flying over the crossbar. Good pressure from Atletico now.
22 minIt is a game of set pieces at the moment, with Atletico threatening once again as Godin meets a corner, but his effort flies wide of the post. Elche are still offering a threat in the final third here.
24 minBOOKING! Torres (Atletico) is booked for a high challenge on Cisma.
26 minYou just get the feeling that Atletico need to score the first goal this evening in order to settle the crowd. Elche are quite comfortable at the moment and the home supporters are a little concerned.
28 minHalf-chance for the away side as Mosquera rides a couple of challenges before trying his luck from outside the box, but the midfielder's effort was always flying wide of the post. Still goalless here.
31 minLittle under 15 minutes of the first period remaining in Madrid and we are still level at 0-0. Atletico are on top at the moment, but Elche have not been too concerned with balls coming into their box.
33 minThe referee has been more involved than he would have liked in the last couple of minutes, with a series of late challenges bringing a stop to proceedings. Still goalless in the Spanish capital here.
35 minElche have the chance to deliver a deep free kick, but Fajr fires straight over the crossbar, much to the frustration of his manager. The overall quality in the final third has not been too good here.
37 minElche are growing in confidence here as they continue to pass and probe in the Atletico half. They might still be in trouble relegation-wise, but they have won their last two games in the league.
39 minHalf-chance for the home side as Garcia meets a deep cross from Siqueira, but his header is straight into the arms of the goalkeeper. Can Atletico make the breakthrough late in the first period?
40 minCHANCE! Quite comfortably the best chance of the half as Torres meets a super ball from Koke, but his effort flies high of the crossbar. That really should have been 1-0 to the hosts!
43 minGood spell of pressure from the home side as they force three corners in quick succession, but Elche manage to survive. The Atletico supporters are full of noise at the moment, but it is still 0-0.
43 minBOOKING! Cisma (Elche) is booked for a late challenge on Gamez.
45 minAnother half-chance for the home side as Gamez drives down the right before delivering a super cross into Griezmann, but the Frenchman cannot make contact and the score remains goalless.
45 min+1HALF-TIME: Atletico 0-0 Elche
5.47pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Atletico have dominated in terms of chances created, but have thus far been frustrated in the final third. Elche, meanwhile, have not yet hit the target, but have caused problems on the counter.
5.52pmSTATS! Atletico have dominated the possession with 63%, while they have had 11 attempts - three of which have been on target. Elche, meanwhile, have had three attempts, but thus far failed to hit the target. There have also been two yellow cards, one for the hosts and one for the visitors.
5.57pmBENCH WATCH! Atletico boss Simeone might well look to alter proceedings at the interval and he has options in the shape of Jimenez, Mandzukic, Saul and Turan. Elche, meanwhile, have the likes of Herrera, Gimenez and Arques in reserve. Will we see any changes at the break?
46 minHere we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Atletico make the breakthrough in the Spanish capital? The home side get the second 45 minutes underway.
47 minNo changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise at this stage of events. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains 0-0 for the next 15 minutes or so.
47 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side to take the lead as Siqueira sets up Griezmann with a super low cross, but the Frenchman's effort is just high of the crossbar.
48 minSiqueira appeared to injure himself making that cross and will now need to be replaced here.
49 minCHANCE! Yet another chance for the home side as Torres bursts through on goal, but once again Tyton is on hand to make the save. Atletico could have had two early in this half!
49 minSUB! The change is made as Juanfran replaces Siqueira.
51 minHalf-chance for Elche this time as a corner drops at the feet of Mosquera, but his effort is blocked en route to goal. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - will be vital here.
53 minCHANCE! Another opportunity for the home side as Torres reacts first to a loose ball inside the box, but once again his effort is blocked and Elche clear the resulting corner. Pressure building!
54 minBOOKING! Jonathas (Elche) is booked for dissent.
55 minGOAL! Atletico 1-0 Elche (Griezmann)
56 minFinally Atletico make the breakthrough and it is Griezmann who pounces on a loose save from Tyton to fire into the bottom corner. The Elche goalkeeper had saved a volley from Koke, but he could only push the ball into the air and Griezmann was on hand to head home his 21st league goal.
58 minThe goal is perhaps a shade harsh on Elche - certainly the manner that it came - but Atletico have been pushing in this second period. Little over 30 minutes of football remaining in the capital.
60 minYou get the feeling that a second goal for Atletico would kill this game and the home side are really pressing as we approach the hour mark. Elche, however, have won their last two in the league and will remain in the match as long as the score is still 1-0. It is delicately poised at the Calderon.
62 minElche are still a threat on the counter attack, but Jonathas has not had too much support in the second period and the striker's frustration is growing. Still a lot of football to be played here.
63 minGOAL! Atletico 2-0 Elche (Garcia)
64 minAnd that might well be game, set and match. Atletico have their second of the evening as Garcia finds the bottom corner from outside the box. It was a decent strike, but the goalkeeper might be a little bit disappointed. It had to travel a long way, but still nestled into the bottom corner, 2-0!
66 minHalf-chance for the away side as Fajr stands over a free kick outside the box, but Godin makes first contact and Atletico push down field. Little under 25 minutes of football remaining in Madrid.
68 minSUB! Atletico make their second change as Saul replaces Garcia.
70 minTorres could really do with a goal this evening, but it just has not happened for the Spaniard in the final third. Will he complete the match? Simeone has both Mandzukic and Jimenez on his bench.
72 minElche are still committing numbers in the final third, but they are struggling to make their mark at the moment as Atletico remain strong in defensive areas. Little under 20 minutes remaining.
74 minSUB! Elche make their first change as Alvaro replaces Rodrigues.
76 minNot too much to report in terms of chances in the last couple of minutes, but it is still an open game, with both teams committing numbers in the final third. I fancy at least one more goal here.
77 minGOAL! Atletico 3-0 Elche (Griezmann)
78 minOh my word! Griezmann loves scoring two goals at the moment! The Frenchman has his 22nd league goal of the season as he pokes a low Saul cross into the bottom corner. Terrible defending mind.
79 minSUB! Elche make their second change as Herrera replaces Jonathas.
81 minElche just need to be careful that they do not take a hiding in the final 10 minutes here. Tiago is next to try his luck for the home side, but his curling effort just swings wide of the far post!
81 minSUB! Atletico make their third change as Griezmann is replaced by Jimenez.
83 minGood pressure from Elche as they force two corners in quick succession, but they cannot find a way through this stern Atletico defence and a big header from Gimenez clears the penalty area.
85 minAtletico might have faced Champions League disappointment during the week, but they are close to making it 10 league games unbeaten, which is a very good run indeed. Hats off to Simeone.
87 minSUB! Elche make their third change as Arques replaces Mosquera.
88 minThis evening's attendance has been confirmed at little over 47,500 and the majority inside the stadium will be delighted with what they have seen in the second period. The first 45 minutes was extremely frustrating for the Spanish champions, but they have been very good since the break.
90 min+1CHANCE! Opportunity for the away side to register as Herrera breaks into the Atletico box, but his effort is straight at the goalkeeper. The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes.
90 min+2BOOKING! Koke (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Cisma.
90 min+3Simeone, who is in the stands this evening as he serves a one-game ban, is almost ready to depart as he watches the final moments. Safe to say he was not pleased with that yellow for Koke there!
90 min+4FULL-TIME: Atletico 3-0 Elche
6.53pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Atletico running out 3-0 winners in the capital. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
