Atleti sweeps Girona aside for first-up LaLiga win
Marcos Llorente scored a fine individual effort and Antoine Griezmann also starred as Atletico Madrid claimed its first LaLiga victory of the season with a 3-0 win over Girona.
Griezmann and substitute Koke were also on target for Diego Simeone's side at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano.
Atletico, which handed a debut to new signing Conor Gallagher late in the game, broke the deadlock six minutes before half-time.
Griezmann stepped up and drilled a fierce 18-yard free-kick beyond Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who had been penalised and booked for handball just outside his own penalty area.
Gazzaniga was helpless again within three minutes of the restart, as Llorente picked up a pass from Griezmann and embarked on a powerful solo run from just inside his own half, before rifling into the roof of the net from 20 yards.
Los Rojiblancos sealed the victory in stoppage-time after a swift counter-attack that culminated in Llorente crossing for Koke to volley home.
Since the 2015-2016 season, Atletico has scored 10 goals directly from free-kicks in all competitions, with Griezmann scoring nine of them.
His effort today was the first such goal by a Los Rojiblancos player since Luis Suarez against Cadiz in January 2021.
Griezmann also continued his personal scourge of Girona. this was the midfielder's fifth goal against the side in LaLiga – equalling Borja Iglesias – with no player registering more.
