Giuliano Simeone stole the spotlight on Tuesday as he scored two goals in a commanding 5-0 victory for Atletico Madrid over Getafe, propelling his team into the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.
The young striker, son of the club’s coach Diego Simeone, has emerged as a crucial player for the Rojiblancos in recent months, and his impressive performance served as a catalyst for the one-sided quarterfinal match at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Atletico Madrid wasted no time asserting their dominance, flying out of the blocks with intensity and flair. Simeone opened the scoring just eight minutes into the game.
Getafe goalkeeper Jiri Letacek hesitated as he approached a cross from Javi Galan, allowing Simeone to nod the ball into the net from close range, marking an inauspicious start for the visitors.
In the 17th minute, the forward doubled his tally with the help of Rodrigo De Paul, who expertly set him up as the Getafe defense struggled to contain Atletico’s attacking prowess.
Despite a golden opportunity for Julian Alvarez to extend the lead further, the striker misfired after being unselfishly assisted by Antoine Griezmann.
As halftime approached, Samuel Lino added to the scoreline with a deft finish that showcased his skill.
The Brazilian winger executed a clever turn, leaving defender Juan Iglesias floundering before slotting the ball home, marking a 3-0 lead for the hosts.
Early in the second half, Simeone nearly completed his hat-trick, but his goal was ruled out for offside due to an infraction by Galan in the build-up. However, Atletico remained unfazed as they expertly managed the game.
As the match wore on, Getafe tightened their defense, but Atletico’s relentless pressing eventually paid off.
In the 78th minute, Angel Correa, who came on as a substitute, unleashed a powerful low shot from outside the area, extending the lead to 4-0.
The final blow came from another substitute, Alexander Sorloth, who finished off a well-executed play, firing past Letacek after Correa laid the ball off to him.
With this resounding victory, Atletico Madrid advances in the Copa del Rey, hoping to clinch their first trophy since 2013.
The footballing world is set to watch as the quarterfinal stage continues, with Real Madrid taking on Leganes on Wednesday, Real Sociedad facing Osasuna, and Barcelona clashing with Valencia on Thursday.Key Match Stats:
