Massive advantage Atlético after Europa League win in Copenhagen

It’s advantage Atlético Madrid after the first leg of their Europa League round of 32 game against Copenhagen.

Diego Simeone’s men won in Denmark on Thursday night, thrashing the hosts 4-1. It’s a very significant advantage with the Danes looking like they’re down for the count after conceding four in the snow.

There was a late change in the line-up as Jan Oblak was ruled out with the flu and his deputy Miguel Ángel Moyá stepped in at the last moment. Diego Godín also returned to the starting side after suffering a horrific facial injury two weeks ago.

Antoine Griezmann nearly opened the scoring when he pounced on a mistake but missed as Robin Olsen rushed off his line to get a hand to it. There were some nervous moments straight after that when Viktor Fischer gave the home side the lead with a nice backheel after 15 minutes.

But Atlético settled things down and continued to knock on the door. They had the equaliser just six minutes later when Saúl Ñíguez headed home a Griezmann cross, and Atlético went ahead on 37 minutes when Kévin Gameiro finished smartly to the far corner from a Lucas Hernández cross from the left.

Atlético continued to manage the game in the second half and looked dangerous while doing so. Yannick Carrasco came close with a couple of efforts either side of the post.

It was Griezmann who effectively killed the tie in an increasingly-snowy second half at Parken Stadium when he slid the ball under the keeper as he rushed out to the left of the box.

Substitute Vitolo then made it four with his first Europa League goal for Atlético and all but guaranteed progression to the next round of the Europa League. It means Copenhagen have to come to the Wanda Metropolitano and score four, which frankly just isn’t happening.