THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADRID, Spain — Sergio Aguero scored his fourth goal in a week to set Atletico Madrid on its way to a 4-0 win over Recreativo Huelva in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Florent Sinama-Pongolle added two more goals and Maniche got the other in a victory that lifted Atletico to six points. Early leader Espanyol also had six points but hosted Getafe later in the day.
Aguero, left completely alone by Recreativo’s defence, took just eight minutes of the game at Vicente Calderon Stadium to continue his prolific form when he headed in the first goal from Simao Sabrosa’s floated free kick. The Argentina striker netted twice in Atletico’s 3-0 Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday and scored his team’s consolation goal in its 2-1 loss at Valladolid last weekend.
Aguero then had a second goal disallowed 16 minutes later, before Recreativo went on the attack and subjected Atletico to several nervous moments before halftime.
But Atletico doubled its lead in the 53rd when Portugal midfielder Maniche drilled the ball home after Recreativo had failed to clear a corner.
Sinama-Pongolle, who joined Atletico from Recreativo in the off-season, ended his former club’s hopes with the third goal in the 78th, the French forward sidefooting home following a forceful run by Atletico substitute Miguel De Las Cuevas.
Sinama-Pongolle scored again in the 89th when he beat Recreativo defender Cesar Arzo before calmly stroking the ball home to provide Atletico with a repeat of the 4-0 win over Malaga in its opening home game three weeks ago.
On Sunday, defending champions Real Madrid will seek their second win of the season on a visit to Racing Santander, while FC Barcelona aims to improve on its worst league start for 35 years when it travels to promoted Sporting Gijon.
Other games are: Deportivo La Coruna versus Mallorca; Almeria versus Malaga; Valencia versus Osasuna; Real Betis versus Sevilla; Numancia versus Villarreal; and Athletic Bilbao versus Valladolid.