Griezmann fails to save Atletico
Atletico Madrid were dumped out of the King’s Cup by Sevilla after a 3-1 defeat in their quarter-final, second leg on Tuesday saw them exit the competition 5-2 on aggregate.
Sevilla opened the scoring after 23 seconds with full back Sergio Escudero punishing lax marking before an Ever Banega penalty and Pablo Sarabia’s late strike wrapped up the win.
Antoine Griezmann had got Atletico back into the contest with a stunning long-range rightfoot strike after 13 minutes that exposed goalkeeper Sergio Rico’s questionable positioning.
But the Frenchman twice fired over from close range before unmarked strike partner Kevin Gameiro missed with a header.
The Andalusian hosts added to Escudero’s early strike after the break to regain the lead when Banega converted his spot kick after Saul Niguez was adjudged to have fouled Joaquin Correa.
Atletico forward Angel Correa then missed a gilt-edged chance to level again as Rico thwarted him in a one-on-one situation and was made to pay when Sarabia rounded off the scoring on the counterattack 10 minutes from time.
The 2013 King’s Cup winners Atletico, who trail Liga leaders Barcelona by 11 points, must now turn their attention to the Europa League where they are in the round of 32 after being knocked out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.
Meanwhile, Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday that defender Javier Mascherano will leave the club this month, with Spanish media reporting the Argentine is heading to Hebei China Fortune.
“Javier Mascherano is leaving FC Barcelona after seven and a half seasons,” the club said on their website.
The five-time European champions did not specify where Mascherano was going, but Barcelona sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reported that he will “this Friday become part of the squad of his new club Hebei China Fortune who are doing their pre-season in Marbella (in southern Spain).”
In December, Sport, another Catalan daily, said that Hebei had reached a deal to sign the Argentina international from Barca for €10 million (RM48 million), conditional on the Spanish club plugging the gap, which they did by signing Colombian centreback Yerry Mina.