MADRID, Spain -- Atletico Madrid moved one step closer to its first Spanish league title in 18 years with a 2-0 win over Elche on Friday, and now turns its attention to receiving Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals. Cheap Shoes Ireland Online . Atleticos eighth straight win in the league kept it in control of its destiny and needing three wins in the final four rounds to claim its first league title since 1996. Defender Miranda scored the opening goal at Vicente Calderon Stadium in the 72nd minute when he floated his header just inside the upright before Diego Costa added a penalty he had earned in stoppage time for his 27th league goal of the season. Atletico needed goalkeeper Courtois Thibaut to make successive saves around the half-hour mark, and didnt lose its composure after David Villa had a penalty saved in the 51st. Atletico provisionally extended its lead over Real Madrid to six points, with Barcelona another point behind. Madrid wont play Valladolid until May 7 as it rests after winning the Copa del Rey title and prepares to host Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the other Champions League semifinal. Barcelona hosts Athletic Bilbao on Sunday needing to rebound from losing in the Copa del Rey final and keep alive its dwindling hopes of defending its league title. Regardless of the two powerhouses results, Atletico can break their combined nine-year hold on the league crown by winning three of its four remaining games at Valencia and Levante, then home against Malaga, before the season finale at Barcelona. "All the games here on in are going to be tough," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. "We have made it through one final and have four to go. I dont even want to think that winning three will be enough. All our effort and work make us focus on the four games left, and three are away from home. "Now we need to recover the best we can for Chelsea, a game that is very important for us, our fans and the history of the club." Diego Costa showed no signs of the deep cut in his left shin he received last week when he slammed into the goal post while scoring at Getafe, with the Brazilian striker causing Elches defence trouble from the start. He earned a penalty when fouled from behind by Ionut Sapunaru, who was sent off with his second yellow card, giving Diego Costa the chance to pull within one goal of Cristiano Ronaldos league-leading tally of 28 goals for Madrid this campaign. Courtois did his part by making saves to deny Javi Marquez and Sapunaru, again proving his major contribution to Atleticos championship bid. Simeone sent on midfielders Raul Garcia and Jose Sosa early in the second half, and both set up scoring opportunities. Raul was fouled to produce a penalty, only for Villa to have his spot kick smothered by goalie Manuel Herrera before he was replaced by Sosa. Sosa picked out Miranda at the far post for him to lift his corner kick into the side of the net and set Atletico on its way. "It was a set piece we had worked on," said Miranda, the latest role player to step up at big moments and score key goals for Atletico. "We know how to dig down when we have to. We have four finals left and we have to win them." Shoes Ireland From China . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Shoes Ireland On Sale . Joining him in this years class were Switzerlands Patrick Huerlimann and Norways Eigil Ramsfjell. The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. https://www.shoesirelandsale.com/ . On paper, it looks a little like Andre the Giant taking on a midget wrestler. It has all the makings of a rout with the Americans adding an eighth win in nine outings of this biennial event. The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one.WINNIPEG -- Alex Suber is hungry to start another CFL season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and wipe away the memory of 2013, one of the worst on record for the team. "Im excited just for a new start, just to see where things are going, to bring some kind of tradition back to the team and guys being excited about something new," the defensive back said during a conference call Monday after agreeing to stay with the Bombers rather than go to free agency next month. Suber is entering his fifth CFL season, all with Winnipeg. He played 18 games last season at halfback, recording 54 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery, while adding six special-teams tackles. "He brings an attitude to the field and is a great athlete on both defence and special teams," GM Kyle Walters said in a statement about Suber. "He was a player on our free-agent list we targeted very early on as a guy we wanted back and the organization is very excited to have him wearing the Bomber uniform for the foreseeable future. Discount Shoes Ireland. quot; Suber says he has already started preparing for the new season, working in the gym in Tampa, where he noted the weather isnt great by Florida standards but its certainly a lot better than the Canadian prairies. He says he wants to show up in good shape after playing through some minor injuries last season. Suber says he isnt worried that new head coach Mike OShea has yet to name a new defensive co-ordinator. "I think theyre slowly working it out and figuring out exactly what they want, not rushing for the fans and the media . . . and I appreciate that," he said. Suber was happy to see announcements that Jason Vega and Bryant Turner are returning to the defence. With just three wins in 2013, the Bombers tied a modern record for the second-worst season in team history. It cost general manager Joe Mack and coach Tim Burke their jobs. ' ' '