Spanish La Liga
Result: Atletico Madrid 5-1 Real Betis
Date: 02 April 2016
Venue: Vicente Calderon
Atletico Madrid were too strong for Real Betis as they romped to a 5-1 win in an exciting La Liga clash at the Vicente Calderon.
The hosts were quick out the starting blocks as they went on the offensive from the onset. Saul Niguez almost put them ahead only seven minutes into the match with a lovely header that whiskered just a bit too high.
Antoine Griezmann then forced a nice save from the visiting goalkeeper with a neat strike to the bottom corner. Alvaro Cejudo then almost grabbed the opener for Real Betis as he produced a fine 13th minute effort that went just wide of the mark.
Atleti then regained control of the clash, and were finally rewarded with a 36th minute strike from Fernando Torres, handing them a 1-0 lead. Before the visitors could regather and refocus, Griezmann had already made it 2-0 only five minutes later.
The home side were looking unstoppable with the half-time break looming, and the two goalscorers were proving to be real thorns in the Real Betis defensive set-up, but the Betis defence managed to hold on until the break.
Heiko Westermann almost introduced the second stanza with a wonder strike, but his effort was well saved in the bottom corner. Diego Simeone’s charges then began to reclaim dominance of the match and Torres together with his accomplice Griezmann continued to cause havoc in the visitors’ box.
After a couple half-chances, Juanfran stepped up with a 64th minute effort to extend the hosts’ lead to 3-0. Ten minutes later, their lead was almost increased once more as Griezmann watched his header go agonizingly wide.
Ruben Catsro then showed Griezmann how to put the ball behind the net by netting Real Betis’s opener four minutes later, making it 3-1 with seventy-eight minutes on the clock. Griezmann proved to be a fast learner, as the French international rocked up with a fine strike two minutes later, taking Atleti’s lead to 4-1.
The final few minutes proved to be rather slow, as the contest seemed to be over, but there was still time for Thomas Partey to add one more for the hosts right on the stroke of full-time, 5-1.
