Winning Against Girona, Atletico Madrid Heats Competition On The Top Board Of La Liga

Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann celebrated a goal in the match against Girona. (X/@Atleti)

JAKARTA - Atletico Madrid poked into the top of the Spanish La Liga standings and heated competition with Celta Vigo and Barcelona after winning 3-0 over Girona.

Atletico finished Girona while playing at home at the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium, Monday, August 26, 2024 in the morning WIB. This is Atletico's first win after being detained by Villarreal 2-2 in the previous match.

The victory immediately brought Atletico to the top. Atletico managed to break the top three after pocketing four points. Similar to the one-city rival, Real Madrid, who won with the same score over Real Valladolid. Only Atletico won the goal difference so they could occupy the position above Madrid.

Meanwhile, Celta Vigo is still perched at the top of the standings with six points. Their points are the same as Barcelona, who are in second place because they lost on goal difference with Celta.

In that match, new defender Atletico Conor Gallagher made his debut. Only the player who was brought in from Chelsea had just dropped in the second half.

Meanwhile, striker Julian Alvarez, who was bought from Manchester City, played a second match. But he hasn't been able to score a goal for the team.

Atletico himself opened the scoring through striker Antoine Griezmann. The goal was generated through a free kick from the French national team player in the 39th minute. Atletico got a free kick after goalkeeper Paulo Gazziga made a foul holding the ball outside the penalty box.

Diego Simeone's 1-0 lead lasted until the end of the first half. Furthermore, the hosts increased their lead after Marcos Llorente scored a goal in the second half just three minutes.

Llorente did a solo run before releasing a shot that beat Gazhaniga. Captain Koke was the one who was caught breaking into Girona's goal. Koke's goal was created in injury time which brought Atletico to a 3-0 win.

"Fans and players have been waiting to play at home for a long time. And this is the perfect game. We look forward to keeping it," Griezmann said in response to Atletico's important win over Girona.

"Griezman said that Girona, who has competed in the Champions League this season after being ranked third in La Liga 2023/2024, played well at Atletico's home. Goalkeeper Gazziga showed his best performance and thwarted a number of chances.

"I was waiting and looking for a gap because we faced the goalkeeper who played amazingly. When there was a slight gap in the far post, I also carried out the execution. In addition, there was a lucky factor so I could score goals," he said.

Griezmann, further said that the team must be able to maintain performance. Moreover, they already have to compete against Espanyol's promotion team in the middle of the week or Thursday, August 29, 2024 in the morning WIB.

"We have to keep playing with the same enthusiasm. After going through hard training, we have to be able to show it in the game," Griezmann said.

Meanwhile, midfielder Girona Oriol Romeu admitted that he was disappointed because the team had played well in the first half. However, they struggled to maintain their performance so that they conceded again in the next round.

"Their goals were created when we were in a bad situation. In the first half, we played well. But we then ended with defeat. However, we took the positive side. There were lessons from the bad results in this match," said Romeu.