Atletico get season’s first win

MADRID, August 26

Goals from Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente and Koke secured Atletico Madrid a 3-0 win over Girona in their first home game of the LaLiga season.

Atletico put on a solid performance at the Civitas Metropolitano stadium to overcome last season’s surprise package. They moved up to four points, having drawn at Villarreal in their league opener. Griezmann opened the scoring in the 39th minute when he sent his free kick into the bottom far corner after Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga got a yellow card for handling the ball outside of the box.

“The fans and the players were really looking forward to coming home after such a long time. A perfect night and let’s keep it going,” Griezmann said. “I was waiting to see where the keeper was standing and I saw that there was a little gap at the far post and with a bit of luck it went in.”

Llorente doubled the advantage with a powerful long-range effort past Gazzaniga following a solo run three minutes after the break.

“(Llorente) is like that, he always gives everything for the team,” Griezmann said. “No matter what position you put him in, he gives 100% and these are the players we need at the club.”

Captain Koke, who came on early in the second half, sealed the rout with a tap-in in stoppage time off a Llorente cross for his first goal since the 2021-22 season.