Author: Amrit Santlani
Álvaro Morata, Memphis Depay and Marcos Llorente scored the goals as Atlético de Madrid beat Granada 3-1 at the start of the 2023-24 La Liga season. Samuel Aghehowa scored a consolation goal for Paco López’s men, but they couldn’t spoil the party at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday. Brazilian Samuel Diaz Lino is still on the bench at Atlético Madrid.
The newly promoted second division champions faced a stern test in their first game back among the big boys, while Diego Simeone’s men started the new season on a winning note.
Summer signing Cesar Azpilicueta almost helped Atlético Madrid open the scoring early on when he found Antoine Griezmann near the by-line, who crossed the ball to Alvaro Morata, but the Spaniard fumbled and failed to hit the target.
Morata had another chance saved by André Ferreira after receiving a pass from Rodrigo de Paul, but the Spaniard was offside. Just before half-time, Morata received a yellow card for handling the ball after a slightly erratic cross from Llorente.
In the last minute of stoppage time before the end of the first half, Morata put the hosts ahead after the striker was lucky that the ball deflected off Jesus Vallejo and landed at his feet.
Omorodion Aghehowa tested Oblak with a header after the break, but the Slovenian goalkeeper was alert. Yannick Carrasco was caught out by Gonzalo Villar just after the hour mark. The Granada substitute fed Aghehowa, who struck from close range to put the visitors back on level terms.
Depay then put Atlético back in the lead with a goal that could be considered their best of the season, when he struck the ball from 30 meters with a powerful rocket into the top corner. Simeone’s men almost scored another goal when Memphis had a shot saved by two Granada players.
Llorente put the newly promoted team to the test by taking advantage of a defensive lapse by the Granada players and scoring the third goal to seal the three points for Atlético de Madrid.