MADRID: Memphis Depay scored with a stunning long-range strike in the second half to help Atletico Madrid wrap up the opening round of the La Liga season by jumping to the top of the table with a 3-1 home victory over promoted Granada on Monday.

Alvaro Morata gave the hosts the lead seven minutes into first-half injury time at the Metropolitano Stadium. Cesar Azpilicueta, on his Atletico debut, crossed and Granada centre-back Jesus Vallejo mis-timed his clearing header nodding the ball straight to the unmarked Morata, who fired home.

Last season’s LaLiga2 champions levelled on 63 minutes after Yannick Carrasco lost the ball trying to dribble out of defence. Gonzalo Villar drilled a cross into the goalmouth where Samu Omorodion lifted a first-time shot into the roof of the net.

Carrasco atoned with a simple assist five minutes later, rolling a short pass square to Depay unleashed an unstoppable rocket from 25 metres that flew into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Both teams went close, before Marcos Llorente picked up a loose ball in the box and wriggled past two defenders to end the match by poking a third goal home in the ninth minute of added time.

“We saw tonight and over the weekend how competitive LaLiga is. It’s very tough, all the teams compete really well,” Atletico manager Diego Simeone told Movistar Plus.

“In the first half we were playing well against a rival that was very solid and they managed to equalise thanks to our mistake. Then Memphis scored a great goal. I’m happy for him, he has been working for a while and deserves it. We have confidence in Morata and Memphis. Our strength resides in the boxes.”

Atletico were the only team to score more than two goals in the opening round. They moved above Real Madrid, Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano, who also won their openers by two goals, on goals scored.

In Monday’s early match, Cadiz beat another promoted team, Alaves, 1-0 with a seventh-minute goal from midfielder Fede San Emeterio.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2023