Atlético Madrid further distanced themselves from rivals Valencia and Sevilla for the crucial third automatic qualification spot in next season’s Champions League with a 3-0 win against a relegation threatened Elche at the Vicente Calderón.
Atlético’s victory now eases pressure for Diego Simeone’s side with seven points the difference between the important third and fourth spot, however, Valencia currently a game behind, could cut the difference to four points with a win against Granada on Monday.
Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring in the 54th minute mark after an initial save by Przemsław Tytoń, Elche’s goalkeeper, with the Frenchman the quickest to react and head home his 21st league goal for the season. Eight minutes later, Raúl García scored a long range effort that looked to be coming from nothing. From a throw in, García cut inside and shot from outside the box with Tytoń not getting down quick enough to prevent the goal. In the 76th minute, after some poor defending from Elche again, Saúl won the ball and crossed to the near post, with no other than Griezmann poking it in to score his second of the game and eighth goal in five league games.
Elche had their chances throughout the first-half, with a weak and lacklustre opening 45 minutes from Atlético, perhaps due to the midweek Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, with the likes of Adrián only missing narrowly in the 10th minute after a confusion between Giménez and Godín nearly costing the home side a disastrous beginning to the game. As the game grew on as did Atlético, particularly from the beginning of the second-half with little trouble after Griezmann’s first goal with only two notably saves from Jan Oblak, in the 81st and 90th minute both from an acute angle.
Griezmann is the real Diego Costa replacement
When Mario Mandžukić was signed from Bayern Munich for the beginning of the season, he was seemed to be a direct replacement for Diego Costa, with his tall, bullish style and work rate similar to those of the born Brazilian now Spaniard. However, with nigglingly injuries in the middle of the season, Mandžukić has not scored as freely as that of Costa. Whilst a return of 12 league goals in his first season is impressive, Atlético to keep up with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid require a player who can score 20 plus goals a campaign.
Enter Griezmann. The Frenchman, brought from Real Sociedad, has now contributed to 22 league goals, with his rich rein of form including seven in the last five league fixtures. Whilst not possessing the same traits as Costa, and far from being tall and bullish, Griezmann has filled the void and scored goals both with his feet and head that has notably shown his speed of knowing where to be at the right time as well of course the many other traits he brings to the Club. With age on his side, Atlético look to have brought in another great forward for the future.
World class Koke must stay in the off season
Another key performance by the Spaniard as he continues to show his value to this Atlético side. More importantly another 90 minutes played straight from featuring in the whole game on Wednesday show how he is unreplaceable. If not for some poor finishing by Fernando Torres and great saves by Tytoń, Atlético could have been looking at a higher win rather than only three goals.
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His vision and control of the ball are above anyone in this Atlético side. His key passes in the final third contribute to most opportunities created and is the team’s highest passer with over a hundred more than Gabi, Atlético’s second highest passer. With rumours suggesting a summer move by Chelsea, the higher wages that would be offered and easier chance of league titles might turn the youngster’s head. Born and bred through Atlético’s youth academy and with the long term vision of the club in reaching the likes of Barcelona and Real, it is important to keep the likely future captain. If Atlético want to continue to progress, Koke’s name must be included.
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