Elche, Spain, May 12 (BNA): Mateus Kona and Rodrigo De Paul scored from close range as Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 victory at Elche Stadium on Wednesday to ensure Diego Simeone’s side finish fourth in La Liga and qualify for the Champions League. For the tenth consecutive season.
With two matches remaining and Real Madrid already crowned the title, Atletico climbed to third place with 67 points, six points ahead of Real Betis in fifth place, and scored better in head-to-head matches.
They also beat Sevilla, who slipped to fourth place with 66 points after a 0-0 draw at home against relegation-threatened Mallorca earlier on Wednesday.
Cunha opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a shot for the first time after a superb individual effort from substitute Renan Lodi on the left wing.
Atlético had several opportunities to consolidate their lead before Antoine Griezmann played a brilliant double with De Paul, who found himself alone in the penalty area to hit the empty net in the 62nd minute.
It was a satisfactory victory for coach Simeone, who faced intense criticism from the local media after he was knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals by Manchester City and after only two wins in his previous seven matches in all competitions.
The 52-year-old Argentine was celebrating his 400th La Liga game with Atletico after joining the club in December 2011.
In the past decade, Atlético has risen to the rank of the elite in European football, reaching two Champions League finals and winning eight titles: two league titles, one King’s Cup, two European Cups, two European Super Cups, and one Spanish Super Cup.
“I am grateful to all the players I have been able to manage at this club all these years, they understand why we have been so successful,” Simeone told Movistar Plus.
“We are a high-ranking club with high expectations, always aiming for high goals, so qualifying for the Champions League was a commitment that we are happy to make.”
With Real, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid all guaranteed to finish the season in the top four, the pressure is now on Sevilla, who have collapsed in recent weeks.
Julen Lopetegui’s side drew for the third time in a row and won only two of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
The coach and his players were booed by the home fans after a disappointing draw against third-placed Mallorca from the bottom, a result that kept local rivals Real Betis with little chance of finishing in the top four.
The King’s Cup winners will qualify for the Champions League if they win their last two matches against Granada, Real Madrid and Seville lose to Atletico and Athletic Bilbao, who are still fighting for seventh place and a place in the European League.