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MADRID, Spain -- Atletico Madrid brought back Diego to strengthen its Spanish league title push, while Valencia witnessed a series of arrivals and exits from the club as the January transfer window closed on Friday. James Jones Raiders Jersey . Atletico signed the Brazilian midfielder on loan from Wolfsburg until the end of the season. Diego previously played under coach Diego Simeone during the 2011/12 season, helping Atletico win the Europa League title that season. Diego said he was overwhelmed by the return to Atletico as it bids for a first league title since 1996, while also competing in the knockout stages of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. "It was only a matter of time before Atletico got to where it is," Diego said. "I had already seen the potential of this team and this club when I was here before." Diegos arrival meant midfielder Oliver Torres playing time was certain to dip, so Atletico loaned the promising teenage talent to Villarreal. With neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid making any last-ditch transfer moves, Valencia took the spotlight as it looks to turn around a bitterly disappointing season that has left it 17 points adrift of the Champions League places. The club unloaded a handful of underperforming players -- including Argentina midfielder Ever Banega -- and added several recruits, including former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita. Valencia was active from Thursday when it signed Keita and striker Eduardo Vargas from Napoli while loaning out forwards Dorlan Pablon, Helder Postiga, and Andres Guardado. On Friday, Valencia added Cruzeiro striker Vinicius Araujo to its attack alongside Vargas after signing the Brazilian to a reported five-year-deal. Valencia also rid itself of a pair of underperforming midfielders as Sergio Canales joined Real Sociedad in a reported 3.5 million euros ($4.7 million) deal. Banega, whose career at Valencia has been riddled with problems, joined Newells Old Boys on loan until the end of the current season. Valencia also signed Swiss defender Philippe Senderos from Fulham, while midfielder Ricardo Costas move to Turkish club Besiktas fell through, however. Rayo Vallecano signed Inter Milans Samule Longo, Granada landed Brazilian striker Welliton from Spartak Moscow, and Levante signed former Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, a free agent, after Valladolid balked. Valladolid instead signed former Barcelona winger Jeffren Suarez from Sporting Lisbon.Cheap Willie Brown Jersey . Atletico built a provisional three-point advantage over Barcelona before the defending champion hosts Elche on Sunday. Barcelona then visits Atletico in the following round. "We will have to wait and see if Barcelona wins tomorrow to stay leader, as it is accustomed to doing," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. Tarell Brown Jersey . Miamis two-year reign was over. And Bosh almost sounded relieved. The Heat got rolled in the NBA Finals by San Antonio, losing in five games, the last three of them lopsided, and for the first time since 2011 there would be no championship parade in Miami.ANAHEIM, Calif. - Even Tyler Bozak cant explain how an undrafted, inexperienced Maple Leafs forward can get so comfortable playing on a line with two of the NHLs top scorers -- under Torontos hockey microscope, no less. Nobody on the Anaheim Ducks looks even slightly comfortable these days, and theyve got no explanations for their collapse. Bozak scored two goals, Joffrey Lupul had two assists against his former Anaheim teammates, and the Maple Leafs beat the Ducks 5-2 Sunday night for their fourth victory in five games. Bozaks third two-goal game of his career was his second in three games. Such are the rewards of skating on the Leafs top line with NHL scoring leader Phil Kessel, who had an assist for his 31st point, and Lupul, whos tied for second in the league with 29 points in his own breakout offensive season. "Im comfortable. I think I can play with those guys," said Bozak, who has stayed on the top line even with Tim Connollys return from injury. "Weve had a ton of injuries, but guys have stepped up and responded really well." Bozak and Clarke MacArthur scored 19 seconds apart in the first period for Toronto, which reclaimed first place in the Northeast Division and sent the spiralling Ducks to their seventh consecutive loss with a sturdy, workmanlike performance to finish a mileage-heavy four-game road trip. "After playing with those guys, especially (Ryan) Getzlaf and (Corey) Perry, I know if they get confidence at the start of the game, theyre going to be tough to contain," Lupul said. "It was important that we responded right away after they got the first goal." Lupul was impressive in his return to Anaheim, which surprisingly dealt him to Toronto nine months ago shortly after he returned from a full years absence due to back injuries. Rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner also played more than 25 minutes for the Leafs, who acquired him in the same trade with Anaheim for Beauchemin. "I still dont think of myself in that category with the top scorers in the league," said Lupul, who kept his home in the Los Angeles area. Joey Crabb also scored, Luke Schenn added an empty-netter from in front of his own goal with 12 seconds left, and Jonas Gustavsson made 26 saves in his fourth straight victory for the Maple Leafs during starter James Reimers injury absence. Corey Perry and Francois Beauchemin scored for the Ducks, who have won just twice in 18 games since Oct. 17. Jonas Hiller made 23 savves for the Ducks, who have only 16 points -- the NHLs second-lowest total -- despite the presence of a reigning league MVP, an all-star goalie and a wealth of elite talent. Derek Carr Raiders Jersey. "I think we just seem to be dead between the ears," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "Its mind-boggling, some of the plays that were trying to make. Were not thinking, were not reading, and then it seems that we pile on extra work for ourselves from our lack of execution." With former Ducks general manager Brian Burke watching from the visiting executives suite and original Ducks coach Ron Wilson behind the Maple Leafs bench, Toronto wrapped up its trip with another strong offensive effort in their only Southern California appearance of the season. The Leafs have scored 25 goals in their last five games, getting an early jump in the race for their first playoff spot since 2004. The Leafs are 14 points ahead of the Ducks, who are running out of time to get it together. "Theres been a lot of talking, a lot of meetings, but really no answers," said Teemu Selanne, who leads Anaheim with 22 points. "It seems to me that nothing works. Its just unbelievable. I dont know what to say. Night after night, we make the same mistakes. Were trying to stay positive. I think everybody hates this situation. Theres been enough talking. Theres no mental toughness right now." After Beauchemins opening goal, Toronto evened it when Bozak scored a power-play goal in front on a slick back-pass from John-Michael Liles. Just 19 seconds later, MacArthur capitalized on Toni Lydmans turnover and fired a shot that deflected off Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisas stick and found a sliver of net over Hillers shoulder. MacArthur has scored a goal in three straight games after a three-game injury absence. Crabb also scored in his third straight game, connecting in the second period. Perry, a 50-goal scorer last season while winning the Hart Trophy, scored his 10th goal in 23 games early in the third. Notes: Bozak left tickets for Blue Jays ace Ricky Romero, an East Los Angeles native. ... Getzlafs goal drought reached a career-worst 14 games. ... Kessel had scored against every NHL team except Anaheim. ... Wilson says Gardiner, the Ducks top draft pick in 2008, is the most impressive young defenceman he can remember coaching. ... Before the game, Anaheim recalled G Jeff Deslauriers from its AHL affiliate in Syracuse. Dan Ellis, Hillers backup, was scratched with a groin strain. ' ' ' |
