Atletico Madrid 5-0 Las Palmas: Llorente and Correa get hosts back on track

Marcos Llorente and Angel Correa both scored twice as Atletico Madrid thrashed Las Palmas in a huge 5-0 home win to get back on track in LaLiga.

Javi Munoz hit the woodwork for the visitors early on, but Diego Simeone’s men soon assumed full control when Llorente scored twice in a five-minute span to put them two goals up inside 20 minutes.

Atletico ensured they warmed up for Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Inter in style when Correa struck 73 seconds into the second half, before doubling his tally from the penalty spot just after the hour mark. Substitute Memphis Depay then put the icing on the cake with a powerful late strike from the edge of the area.

The hosts were beaten by Sevilla in their last league match and had suffered an away loss to Las Palmas in November’s reverse fixture, but they have now won four in a row at home and sit five points clear of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao and level with Barcelona, who face Celta Vigo later on Saturday.

Llorenthanos. He is inevitable. pic.twitter.com/u2fcDmdgdf

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 17, 2024

Data Debrief: Home dominance continues

Atletico are unbeaten at home in La Liga this season, with 12 wins and one draw from their 13 league matches in front of their own fans. Looking further back, they have now gone 24 such games without defeat dating back to January 2023.

Llorente’s double was his first since scoring twice in a match against Eibar in April 2021, while Correa – who also registered an assist – had not scored in more than two months prior to this fixture. Atleti were worthy winners, accumulating 2.29 xG to Las Palmas’ 0.59.