Atlético closes out a lackluster season with a resounding victory

A duel without pressure, without needs or obligations. Football for pride and little else. Atlético needed to make up for their poor away form in this final stretch of the season; Girona wanted to bid farewell to a crowd that has suffered greatly this season with a victory. The duel ended up being won by the red-and-whites, with more firepower despite the excellent form of youngster Stuani . The most effective player off the bench this season, Alexander Sorloth , decided the game. A hat trick from the Norwegian and another from Lenglet secured the final three points. [Narration and statistics, 0-4]

Girona's players needed to shake off the weight of relegation and they looked light-hearted in the first half. Asprilla's dribbles were coming, Portu 's runs seemed faster, and Stuani , well, no one really knows the Uruguayan's 'real' age, and probably when he turns 40 in a year and a half, he'll still be scoring goals like he has in this final stretch of the season. Girona's salvation is named Christian , and his surname is Stuani .

Míchel 's men started their last home game with a game more similar to last year's: with personality and confidence, perhaps two words that were lacking in a demanding season with the dream of the Champions League at stake, but they finished it like this season, listless. Atlético wanted to hang back, in a comfortable role for Simeone 's team, perhaps more than what the players who have arrived this year require.

The fans expected a red-and-white eleven packed with newcomers, but the Argentine coach wanted to maintain a logical dynamic in preparation for the Club World Cup. Players came in at the exit ramp, such as Witsel , Azpilicueta , and Musso , but the core group was made up of the usual suspects. The Argentine goalkeeper came on to guarantee Oblak 's sixth Zamora, the history of the award after breaking the tie with Valdés and Ramallets .

Yangel Herrera was the first player to open the scoring, with a header from a corner. Julián Álvarez responded almost immediately after the next play, finding the back of the Girona defense, but he was too far out of position to allow Krapyvtsov to make the subsequent save. The play was fluid and dynamic between the two, with alternating options, but initially lacked bite in the penalty areas. This was despite the fact that both goals were occupied by substitute goalkeepers.

A new medical scare halted a match for the red-and-whites, just like in the last match against Betis. In the 35th minute, Gil Manzano ordered a five-minute stoppage for medical attention for a Montilivi fan. The match restarted with increased pressure from the red-and-whites on Girona's lines, but with few opportunities. The only notable one was a direct free kick from Julián Álvarez that a nervous Krapyvtsov almost put in his own goal.

The second half began as the previous one ended, with another medical intervention in the stands, this time a bit shorter. The game was slow, perhaps due to the heat. Only a flash of Griezmann 's effort, almost from an angle, caused the stadium to jump. Girona took a step forward and began to press Musso 's goal more, but Stuani wasn't having a good day in the controls and mistimed a good pass from Yangel .

Killer Sorloth

As if in a mirror image, Griezmann also failed to control the ball properly on a counterattack launched by Julián . The play continued later, and Lino almost scored if Blind hadn't blocked the ball. It seemed as if both teams had woken up from their nap at the same time. The Frenchman left the pitch for Sorloth shortly after that exchange of blows. The Atlético legend has yet to return to the level he always showed as a red-and-white.

The dance on the benches continued afterward, with a whiff of farewell. Juanpe 's, from Girona, and Correa 's, from the league, if the Argentine ends up leaving the red-and-white team after the controversy surrounding his farewell at the Metropolitano. But with the number 10 waiting in line to come off, a mistake from Krejci ended up at the feet of Julián, who set up De Paul for a pass that was finished by Sorloth . That's now 10 goals off the bench out of the 18 the Norwegian has scored in the league. He almost scored the second five minutes later, but, with a narrow angle, Krapyvtsov responded well to his shot.

However, the Girona goalkeeper made a mess of things shortly afterward after a cross from Julián. The keeper released the ball at the feet of Lenglet, who thanked him by putting it in the net. With the Catalans now fully engaged, the Norwegian found the net again thanks to another pass from Krapyvtsov and then a great gesture from Julián. A double in five minutes and a hat trick in half an hour . The game was already over. And so was the league.