BARCELONA — Adrian Lopez scored a late winner to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo Friday, as Diego Simeone's side stayed in touch with leader Barcelona at the top of Spanish standings. Atletico's ninth victory in as many home games this season trimmed the gap with the pacesetters. Also on Friday, Roberto Soldado scored one goal and set up another to guide Valencia to a 4-2 win over Getafe, earning new coach Ernesto Valverde his first three points at home. Atletico started strongly at Vicente Calderon stadium with Jorge “Koke” Resurrecion hitting the upright in the 12th minute. A regular starter last season, Adrian has seen his minutes on the pitch decrease with Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa leading Atletico's usually potent attack. But with his team stymied by Celta's defense, Simeone sent on Adrian in the 72nd for a waning Costa. And the move paid off five minutes later when the striker let rip a left-footed shot from the edge of the box that flew into the corner of the net. Atletico made it through the final five minutes with 10 men after defender Miranda received his second booking. Falcao, who had scored six goals in the previous two rounds, was unable to add to his season tally of 17 league goals, second only to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi with 25. The Colombia striker will miss Atletico's next game at Mallorca following the winter break after picking up his fifth yellow card of this season. Celta recorded its eighth defeat in nine away games. The promoted club is in 15th place, two points above the relegation zone. Earlier at Mestalla stadium, Sofiane Feghouli created Valencia's first goal just seconds after the start when he stole the ball and picked Soldado out in the area to head in his cross. Soldado then combined with Jonas in the seventh minute with a precise one-two for the Brazil forward to double the lead. Getafe striker Alvaro Vazquez pulled one back in the 13th before the visitors squandered two more clear chances to level. Ricardo Costa netted Valencia's third goal in the 30th and Getafe's Alexis Ruano made it 3-2 in the 59th, with both defenders scoring with headers from corner kicks. Valencia finally shored up its defense before substitute Nelson Valdez made sure of victory in injury time. Getafe stayed in ninth place, while Valencia rose into 10th. PSG takes winter honors Paris Saint-Germain guaranteed it will go into the winter break as Ligue 1 leader after beating 10-man Brest 3-0 Friday, the capital city club's fourth successive win. PSG is three points ahead of Lyon and Marseille, but its superior goal difference of 24, compared to 13 and three respectively for its title rival, will allow it to go into 2013 in pole position. However, Carlo Ancelotti's side will not be getting carried away by its high-flying status — 12 months ago it also led the way at Christmas only to see Montpellier take the title in May. PSG was aided in its cause Friday when Brest had Abdou Sissoko, the little brother of PSG's Mohamed, red-carded after half an hour for a bruising tackle on Ezequiel Lavezzi. However, it wasn't until the second half that PSG took advantage of its numerical superiority. Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring after 55 minutes with his 18th league goal of the season, finishing off a center from Christophe Jallet. Kevin Gameiro added the second in the 73rd minute with his fifth goal of the campaign just minutes after coming on as a substitute. Bernard Mendy then put through his own goal in the second minute of stoppage time. — Agencies
