MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata scored a goal and then missed a penalty as his side began their La Liga campaign with an eventful 1-0 win at home to Getafe on Sunday which saw both teams reduced to 10 men.
Morata nodded home a cross from England defender Kieran Trippier in the 23rd minute and things got even better for Atletico when Getafe's Jorge Molina was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge in the 38th.
The home side's numerical advantage only lasted four minutes though, as debutant left back Renan Lodi earned two yellow cards in the space of 60 seconds and followed Molina down the tunnel.
Atletico's 126-million-euro signing Joao Felix thrilled the crowd with a superb run in the second half which led to him winning a penalty but Morata's spot-kick was saved by Getafe's David Soria.
Felix was forced off injured later on and Atletico had a late scare when Getafe substitute Angel Rodriguez rattled the crossbar with a thumping strike but they held on to claim a win in their opening season game for the first time in four years.
(Reporting by Richard Martin; editing by Tony Lawrence)