Alvaro Morata netted a brace as Atletico Madrid got their new LaLiga season off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory over a spirited Getafe side on Monday.
Match Report
The Spanish international struck in both halves to help Diego Simeone's side kick off their campaign on a triumphant note at Coliseum Alfonso Perez, with Antoine Griezmann adding the third for the visitors.
Quique Sánchez Flores could well feel the final scoreline did his side a disservice, but it will be the Rojiblancos who end this opening weekend with a smile on their face at a job well done.
In stifling evening temperatures in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, this local encounter proved a cagey affair throughout, punctuated by occasional moments of brilliance.
It was one such sublime passage of interplay that saw Atletico carve out their opener, with Morata the recipient of a fluid succession of passes down the middle before planting a low finish beyond David Soria.
Carles Alena returned fire seven minutes out from the interval with a ranged effort just wide of the mark, while Borja Mayoral rattled the crossbar, but otherwise both teams tended towards a more physical kind of encounter.
Getafe remained fiercely competitive however – but when Joao Felix picked off a poor pass from the back to send Morata back through again just shy of the hour mark, the latter effectively sealed the deal.
Griezmann's breakaway finish moments after Mayoral steered a header past the wrong side of the post with a quarter-hour to spare confirmed the victory – and sets the stage for the potential of another great title battle this term.
Match Events
1' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?
14' GOAL! Getafe 0-1 Atletico (Morata)
18' Yellow Card! E.Ünal booked
35' Felix's shot wide out
40' Mayoral's shot over the bar
51' Unal's shot over the bar
58' GOAL! Getafe 0-2 Atletico (Morata)
63' Unal's free kick over the bar
74' GOAL! Getafe 0-3 Atletico (Griezmann)
Line-ups
Getafe XI: S. Mitrović, Dakonam, F. Angileri, Maksimovic, E.Ünal, David Soria, Arambarri, Alena, Duarte, Mayoral, Juan Iglesias
Subs: Mata, Portu, Jaime Seoane, Diego Conde, Ángel Algobia, G. Álvarez, John Patrick
Atletico XI: Witsel, Oblak, Savic, Morata, Saul , Koke, Lemar, Reinildo, Llorente, N. Molina, Felix
Subs: Griezmann, Kondogbia, Carrasco, De Paul, I. Grbić, Correa, Hermoso, Lodi, Matheus Cunha, Marco Moreno, Antonio Gomís
AhmadST3
155
Felix name deserve to be on the headline 3 Assist is something worth appreciation
21Legacy
126
Atletico and Real Madrid have both registered their first wins meanwhile Barca are still waiting for their first goal of the season 😹😹
CaboPinkberryMadrid
70
Atletico are once again, one of the favorites for the LaLiga title
Nino_Luxury
59
Hello Real Madrid, it looks like you have a competent contender now 😁 Good game🎯
Spikelife123
56
Morata has been reborn
Ashlyartz
35
Atletico had a good game today...felix was superb, morata even better viva Atletico!!!
Keita419
31
The boy is in fire 👏👏👏
WaniGeorge
26
Yes! Greizmann finally..😆😆
beansmin
22
The GIF is already here, my pleasure: https://bit.ly/3QuLHBC
LocalMessi
17
Rushing to watch Laliga and Seria A since EPL has become farmer league
puaekmrz
10
They won't talk about Felix with hattrick of assist because he is not Messi. hypocrisy