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Atletico Madrid are top of La Liga with nine games left as Diego Costa scored his 23rd league goal of the season to help them beat 10-man Real Betis.

Atletico are now level on points with Real Madrid but go above their city rivals, who lost to Barcelona, on their head-to-head record.

Betis's Braian Rodriguez was sent off with the match goalless.

Gabi opened the scoring from 20 yards before Costa doubled the lead from close range.

Atletico's fine season under coach Diego Simeone means there is a chance of a team other than Real or Barca winning La Liga for the first time since Valencia were champions 10 years ago.

If Atletico and Real finish the season level on points, the former will take the title as they have a better head-to-head record thanks to the 2-2 draw at the Vincente Calderon and a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu in September, the only home game Real have not won this term.

Barcelona, who host Atletico on the final day, are one point off the Madrid duo.

Atletico initially struggled to create chances against bottom of the table Betis, but the match turned when forward Rodriguez earned a second yellow card for a handball in the 56th minute and was sent off.

Midfielder Gabi opened the scoring two minutes later, firing the ball into the corner from distance, and Spain striker Costa added a second from Koke's neat headed layoff in the 64th minute.