Atletico Madrid delivered a commanding performance on Sunday, securing a 3-0 victory away at Girona to climb into third place in the Spanish La Liga standings.
Dominant Display Sees Atletico Rise
The win at Girona's Montilivi stadium was Diego Simeone's side's fourth consecutive victory across all competitions. This result pushed them above Villarreal in the table, who were set to face league leaders Barcelona later that same day. The three points brought Atletico to within six points of the summit.
Marcos Llorente made a welcome return to the starting lineup after an injury layoff, and Atletico controlled the game against their 18th-placed opponents from the outset.
Koke's Stunner Sets the Tone
The breakthrough came from captain Koke, who unleashed a spectacular long-range strike into the top corner for his 50th goal for the club. "I don't shoot much, I'm more of an assist provider," Koke admitted to Movistar after the match. "However when it sits up like that, I only thought about shooting and luckily it went in."
Girona nearly found an equalizer, but Jan Oblak produced a spectacular save to deny former Atletico player Axel Witsel from close range, showcasing his lightning-quick reflexes.
Gallagher and Griezmann Seal the Deal
Just before halftime, Conor Gallagher doubled the lead. The former Chelsea midfielder finished off a smooth team move, with his shot taking a slight deflection off Vitor Reis on its way in at the near post.
Oblak was called into action again in the second half, making another crucial stop to deny Alex Moreno and preserve the two-goal advantage. Substitute Antoine Griezmann, who has frequently appeared off the bench lately, put the result beyond doubt by calmly slotting home a late third goal. It was his second goal in as many games.
"I'm proud of the work we did today," Koke stated, reflecting on the team's performance. "The team is taking a step forward and doing the things we need to do." The comfortable win solidifies Atletico's position in the Champions League places as they continue their push up the table.
