Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-17 15:33:39
Atletico Madrid secured a confident victory over Las Palmas on Saturday, moving them provisionally into third place in La Liga standings. Marcos Llorente and Angel Correa each scored twice, and Memphis Depay also found the net in a 5-0 triumph for Diego Simeone’s team. Despite resting key player Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid dominated the game, seizing their chance to climb up the league table.
Despite their victorious performance, Atletico Madrid still trail league leaders Real Madrid by 10 points. Diego Simeone made the strategic decision to keep Griezmann out of the game, looking ahead to their upcoming Champions League last 16 match against Inter Milan on Tuesday. The team was also without the injured Alvaro Morata, but managed to secure a strong lineup with Correa and Llorente leading the attack. It proved to be a successful move against Las Palmas, the promoted side currently sitting in eighth place in the league.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Correa expressed his happiness with the result, attributing it to the team’s effective execution of their game plan. He highlighted the early goal as a key turning point that set the stage for their victory. Llorente opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a close-range strike, finding the net once again shortly afterwards. Correa then extended Atletico’s lead at the start of the second half with a well-placed volley, before adding a penalty to his tally. Depay completed the demolition of the Las Palmas defense by finishing off a well-executed play, cementing Atletico’s dominant performance on the field.
Las Palmas defender Sergi Cardona expressed disappointment with the result, acknowledging Atletico’s strength and urging his team to learn from their mistakes and move forward. Despite the loss, Las Palmas remains in eighth place, maintaining a strong position in the league.
Following their victory, Atletico Madrid now sits ahead of Barcelona on goal difference. As the champions prepare to face Celta Vigo, Real Madrid is set to visit Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, and Girona will face Athletic Bilbao on Monday. The La Liga standings continue to shift as the season progresses, and Atletico Madrid’s impressive win has positioned them well within the league as they focus on their upcoming challenges.
