Julián Álvarez and substitute Ángel Correa each scored twice as Atlético Madrid secured a commanding 6-0 victory over struggling Sparta Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Álvarez and Correa Net Braces as Atlético Thrash Sparta in Champions League
The emphatic win sees Diego Simeone's side move to nine points from five matches in the competition, while Sparta remain on four points.
"Each win brings joy, especially when the team plays with such intensity and scores so freely as we did today," said Atlético manager Diego Simeone in Prague. "We performed exceptionally well," he added, praising his players for their "high intensity and speed."
First-Half Dominance
Álvarez opened the scoring in the 15th minute, winning a free-kick just outside the penalty area before curling a sublime effort into the top corner of Peter Vindahl’s goal.
Marcos Llorente doubled Atlético's advantage just before the break. His chip towards goal deceived Vindahl, who was distracted by Alexander Sørloth's attempt to make a glancing header.
Relentless Second Half
Álvarez struck again in the 59th minute, finishing from close range after a clever one-two with Giuliano Simeone, the coach’s son.
Antoine Griezmann, introduced in the second half, made it 4-0 in the 70th minute. He combined neatly with Llorente before sending a low shot into the back of the net.
Correa completed the rout with two late goals. In the 85th minute, he poked in a pass from fellow substitute Samuel Lino, and three minutes later, he weaved through a static Sparta defence to slot home his second.
Simeone's Satisfaction
"The team executed my vision perfectly, from the starters to the substitutes, who made an immediate impact," said Simeone. "Every goal counts, especially in this new Champions League format. We are mindful of playing our best football for the full 90 minutes."
Simeone, marking his 700th match as Atlético manager, had made six changes to the squad that edged Alavés 2-1 in La Liga at the weekend. However, the result was never in doubt, with Sparta managing only a single tame shot on target in the opening minute from Kaan Kairinen.
Atlético dominated throughout, relentlessly testing Sparta’s shaky defence. Vindahl made several key saves, denying Rodrigo De Paul, Sørloth, and Giuliano Simeone to prevent an even heavier defeat.
Continued Champions League Success
The result follows Atlético’s impressive 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month. With three matches remaining in the Champions League’s new league phase, Atlético next face underdogs Slovan Bratislava at home on 10th December.
Meanwhile, Sparta Prague, the reigning Czech champions, have now won just two of their last 12 matches in all competitions, underscoring the depth of their current struggles.