Alexander Sorloth came from the bank to score a hat trick when Atlético Madrid sealed a dominant 4-0 win over Girona in La Liga. Although the visitors were already assured of third place, they will be somewhat relieved after avoiding a first series of four consecutive road races since 2011.
With Girona Safe and Atletico, that all too well-known third position, this was expected to be a calming affair compared to yesterday's fights for European places and LaLiga survival. However, the opening half turned out to be fairly energetic, even if the final performance was missing.
The best chances of the first 45 undoubtedly fell for Julian Alvarez, who was thwarted twice in his attempt to find the top left corner with considerable rescues of Vladyslav Krapyvtsov. The latter was an ambitious free kick from the edge of the box.
In general, Atletico had the lion's share of opportunities in the first half, but the Blanquivermells stuck against a party who wanted to enable their status as the worst travelers under the top five in terms of points-per game.
Visiting manager Diego Simeone's frustrations that were cooked properly in the first half of the stopping time, and he went to the referee's notebook for a different opinion when he complained about a lack of justice against Yangel Herrera after his apparent manhandling of Rodrigo de Paul.
A little more would be needed in innovative from the Argentinian manager if he made a seventh victory in nine H2HS vs Michel (D1, L1). However, he opposed every urge to turn to his couch during the break, and the usual pattern was resumed, with a combination of crossbar and goalkeeper who denied Antoine Griezmann from the tightest corners before Samuel Lino saw a shot taken over by Daley Blind-Much for the Enlightenment of Krapyvtsov, which was held by the deflection.
In the end, Simeone turned to his bank for inspiration on the hour that his youngest football son Giuliano, in addition to Sorloth, continued. With the added incentive to catch up with teammate Alvarez as the club's top scorer before 2024/25, Sorloth lasted only six minutes to break the impasse.
A succession of neat steps culminated in Alvarez Finding the Paul, who played a ball for Sorloth about the face of the goal, so that the Norwegian could choose his place and get his 18th league goal of the campaign.
Already assured of placing their lowest La Liga finish since they returned to the top flight three years ago, Girona posted a weak reaction. A close-range finish for Clement Lenglet from Krapyvtsov's Rommel and two more for Sorloth sealed a one-sided victory for Simeone's Men.
They will feel like their chances of starting the coming FIFA Club World Cup assertive, while Girona's attention turns to a much earlier event such as a point for Sevilla – who play Villarreal this afternoon – will end the Blanquivermells as the 'worst of the rest'.