MADRID: Atletico Madrid climbed provisionally above Barcelona into second in La Liga thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday in a match overshadowed by the death of a Deportivo fan in violent clashes near the stadium.

A 43-year-old supporter of the Galician club, who was not identified by name, had to be fished out of the freezing Manzanares river near Atletico’s Calderon stadium after dozens of rival fans battled in the streets a few hours before kickoff.

He suffered cardiac arrest, hypothermia and head injuries and hospital sources later said he had died shortly after 2 pm local time (1300 GMT) after failing to respond to efforts to revive him. Atletico said in a statement that they condemned the violence.

Earlier, midfielder Saul Niguez had put Atletico ahead two minutes before halftime and playmaker Arda Turan made it 2-0 10 minutes into the second half to lift Diego Simeone’s side to 29 points from 13 matches, four behind leaders Real Madrid and one ahead of Barca.

Real set a club record of 16 straight victories in all competitions when they won 2-1 at Malaga on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo turned playmaker to help Real set the record. Ronaldo saw his own unprecedented start to the domestic campaign end as he failed to find the net for the first time in 12 league matches, but he more than compensated by setting up Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

Benzema diverted a Ronaldo centre past goalkeeper Carlos Kameni in the 18th minute at the Rosaleda and Bale finished off a swift break, in which Ronaldo was also involved, seven minutes from time.

Former Malaga midfielder Isco was dismissed in the 86th minute and the hosts pulled a goal back in stoppage time when Roque Santa Cruz nodded past Iker Casillas.

“I will get the merit for this record, but in reality I have the luck to coach a fantastic team, with fantastic players at a fantastic club,” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. “I have the profound admiration for these players that are playing very well.”

Also on Saturday, Celta Vigo missed a chance to climb above sixth-placed Malaga and draw level on 23 points with fifth-placed Sevilla when they lost 1-0 at home to Eibar, who moved up to 10th on 16 points.

Athletic Bilbao remained unbeaten in six rounds after midfielder Benat Etxebarria set up one goal before scoring to secure a 2-1 win at Getafe that put them provisionally level on 18 points with eighth-placed Villarreal.

Espanyol climbed to 11th, four points behind Villarreal and Bilbao, thanks to a 2-1 victory at home to 15th-placed Levante in teeming rain in Barcelona.

Published in Dawn, December 1st , 2014