Match Report: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Getafe

Atletico Madrid have an incredible performance from Antoine Griezmann to thank for their victory at Getafe. He is truly developing into one of the most complete attacking players in world football.

The Frenchman’s brace, his fourth and fifth goal this season, proved too much for their friendly Madrid neighbours. Los Azulones really showed to the rest of the league why they are prime candidates to drop off the La Liga radar with their fifth defeat in their last six games.

Simeone made six changes to his starting lineup following Saturday's victory over Eibar with Fernando Torres and Yannick Ferreria Carrasco among the players recalled.

The breakthrough came for Atleti after just four minutes. Vincente Guaita, the Getafe keeper, punched clear from a poor Gabi corner. Getafe then failed to exit their box with any deal of urgency which allowed Griezmann acres of space in the area to fire a controlled volley into the far side of the net.

The partnership between Fernando Torres – who in his latter years has finally adapted to his declining physicality – and Antoine Griezmann has the potential to become one of the most potent strike forces in Spain this season. The understanding the pair have is so good I'm utterly convinced they are a romantic item. Torres’ movement is sublime when Griezmann has the ball. El Niño is so aware that the diminutive Frenchman will be able to find him so his runs have been more ambitious this season than they have been in years. Griezmann has given Torres back his most dangerous weapon, his fear factor.

Atletico were sensational for the first half. It was a performance that would have loyal Atleti fans and neutrals alike on their edge of their seat. Every time Atletico Madrid were in possession of the football, anticipation built at the Calderon, electricity was in the air.

However the second half, was not so comfortable and perhaps was deserving of some criticism from El Cholo’s men. The intensity that knocked the life out of Getafe in the first half was apparently left in the dressing room and replaced with a worrying level of complacency. The incisive and precise one touch football that was so prevalent in the first half was replaced by misplaced and sloppy ten yard balls.

Chances came for Getafe as the second half wore on and their best opportunity came on the hour mark. Victor Rodriguez slipped a ball into the path of Pedro Leon, who ordinarily you'd put your house on to score, but with only Oblak to beat screwed the ball wide.

Atletico eventually gave themselves the security they needed in the final minute with a clever chipped ball from substitute Tiago to fellow former benchwarmer Jackson, who unselfishly squared for Griezmann to tap home his second and seal the game.

On paper this was a comfortable game, but on the pitch it was much less so. There is clearly players who are yet to integrate fully into Simeone’s very specific style and that is clear in the inability to put in a consistent performance over ninety minutes thus far. Although, complaining whilst Los Rojoblancos sit atop of the La Liga tree knowing there is more within the unit can only be a good thing.