This is the moment Alvaro Morata did not realise he had scored during Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 win against Elche because he was down on the floor injured – as Diego Simeone‘s side moved up to third place in La Liga.
The Spain international doubled Atletico’s lead after his left-footed strike deflected over goalkeeper Edgar Badia to add to Joao Felix’s earlier header.
But Morata did not realise the ball had ended up in the net because he had gone to ground following a challenge from Elche’s Clerc as he shaped to shoot.
The ball arced over Badia and landed over the line, yet Morata only found this out when he saw World Cup finalist Antoine Griezmann celebrating.
Brilliant footage later emerged on social media of a confused Morata questioning Griezmann – who was sporting a new pink hair style – about the goal and pointing at himself in disbelief.
After the game, the ex-Chelsea striker – who continues to be linked with a loan move to Manchester United – told Movistar: ‘I was on the ground and I thought it had been a goal for Griezmann.
‘I thought that after the rebound, he had scored. It was important to win. Especially in our stadium, we want the fans to have a good end to their year. We thank them for our support.
It was a chaotic La Liga clash with three players sent off at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Elche defender Gonzalu Verdu was shown a red card in first-half stoppage time after dragging Morata down just outside the box before Atletico defender Mario Hermoso then received his marching orders in the 53rd minute for a second yellow.
Elche were reduced to nine men in the 90th when Domingos Quina received his second booking for a challenge on Morata.
Joao Felix opens the scoring for Atletico Madrid as the return to La Liga with 2-0 win over Elche
This season, Morata has scored six goals in 21 games for the club – all of them coming in La Liga.
The striker scored three times in four games for Spain during the World Cup in Qatar before his country’s shock exit to Morocco in the last-16.
United are sticking to the loan market this January – due to the uncertainty surrounding the sale of the club – and Morata has been brought up as an option.
Erik ten Hag missed out on Cody Gakpo after Liverpool hijacked the deal, and the United boss confirmed that the club are in the market for a No 9.