Atlético Madrid secured their first victory of the 2024/2025 La Liga season by defeating Girona 3-0 at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano. This win followed an extensive summer spending spree, with new recruits Robin Le Normand and Julián Alvarez making their debut in the starting lineup.
The opening goal came just before half-time when Antoine Griezmann scored from a free-kick after Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga was penalized for a handball outside the box. Marcos Llorente extended Atlético’s lead shortly after the break with a powerful shot that Gazzaniga could not save.
Although Girona maintained possession following the second goal, they struggled to create significant scoring opportunities. To regain control of the match, Atlético’s manager Diego Simeone introduced debutant Conor Gallagher. The home team secured their victory in injury time when Koke capped off a counter-attack with a goal.
With this result, Atlético now has four points from their first two matches, while Girona is left with only one point. The clean sheet marks Atlético’s first at home in seven matches, enhancing their defensive performance. Girona, which qualified for the UEFA Champions League last season, may face difficulties in replicating that success after losing key players during the summer.
This decisive win serves as a positive sign for Atlético as they aim to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona for the La Liga title. Nonetheless, their earlier draw against Villarreal indicates there is still potential for improvement if they aspire to mount a serious title challenge this season.