Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images

The home win truly kickstarts Atleti?s season Atlético Madrid sealed their first three points of the season in fine fashion as they trounced last season?s top-four rivals Girona with a 3-0 demolition at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano on Sunday night.
It started with a pinpoint free-kick from Antoine Griezmann after Paulo Gazzaniga avoided a red card for handball outside the box, and Marcos Llorente made it two with a powerful shot early in the second half. In the dying moments, Koke got in on the act with a third after great work by Pablo Barrios and Marcos Llorente to break.
Here, we take a look at some of the takeaways from the game.

Primera vez que se hace un cántico a Marcos Llorente
Merecido. pic.twitter.com/E3vkOEy3Kl? rubén (@rubennatm) August 25, 2024

Atleti have a new found confidence in the final third
There was light and day between the Atlético Madrid side who scored 1 from 1.56 xG against Osasuna in the last home game and that which scored 3 from 1.22 xG on Sunday night. This was an Atleti side full of belief and optimism, just as spread through the stands, and it showed in how they played. The power in Marcos Llorente?s 20-yard rocket channeled all of the pre-season optimism into one shot.
There was no better illustration of that fact than Antoine Griezmann scoring direct from a free-kick to give the team the lead in the first half. It was the first time Atleti have scored direct from a ...