Atletico Madrid’s Argentinian coach Diego Simeone (left) celebrates with his team after Jackson Martnez scored a goal during the Spanish league match against Sevilla FC at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla.
DPA/Madrid
Atletico Madrid made it six points from two games Sunday with an impressive 3-0 win at Sevilla, who have just one point.
“The final result makes this look like an easy win, but it certainly was not,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
“They (Sevilla) are a very competitive team, and they made things quite difficult for us ... We were more effective than them in front of goal, that was the main difference between the two teams.”
The first goal in the Sanchez Pizjuan was put away by Spain midfielder Koke in the 35th minute with an intelligent low toe-poke, after good work by Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann.
Veteran Fernando Llorente, making his debut for Sevilla, missed two good chances to equalise, as the hosts dominated the second half.
Against the run of play, 12 minutes from time, Atletico made it 2-0 when a long shot from captain Gabi took a wicked deflection off Sevilla’s Grzegorz Krychowiak and went in.
Supersub Jackson Martinez scored Atletico’s third goal four minutes from time, after playing a clever one-two with Griezmann.
In their next game in two weeks’ time, Atletico are at home to champions Barcelona, who have also won their first two matches.
Barca and Atletico are level at the top with surprise packages Celta Vigo — who caned Rayo Vallecano 3-0 Saturday — and Eibar, who scored a pragmatic 2-0 home win over of Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao earlier Sunday.
Saul Berjon gave Eibar the lead in the 34th minute with a clam penalty, after Aymeric Laporte had clumsily pulled down Sergi Enrich. Adrian Gonzalez — the son of former Real Madrid star Michel — made it 2-0 on the hour by heading in a corner.
Eibar only avoided relegation last season because Elche were sent down due to their tax debts. However, they are now joint top with Celta Vigo, both with six points and a goal difference of plus four.
“We are not going to think about being top of the table, it is irrelevant to us,” said Eibar scorer Berjon.
“All we want to do is to continue this good start, without looking all day at the league table.”
Bilbao, who looked tired after Thursday’s exertions in qualifying for the Europa League, are rock bottom with zero points from two games.
Another team looking tired after their midweek Euro exertions are Valencia, who could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Deportivo La Coruna.
Lucas Perez gave Deportivo the lead, Alvaro Negredo quickly levelled for Valencia.
Valencia had right-back Antonio Barragan sent off 10 minutes from time, and Deportivo managed to hold out for the draw.
“I think we deserved to win tonight,” said Negredo of Valencia. “We did most of the attcking, and we should really have scored at least two goals.”
Valencia and Deportivo both have two points now.
Later Sunday, Granada scored their first win, 2-1 at troubled Getafe, on goals from Youssef El Arabi and Success Isaac.
Granada now have three points, Getafe have none at all.
Also Sunday, Las Palmas vs Levante - both of whom lost their opening matches - played out a cautious, colourless 0-0 draw.
