Atlético Madrid have secured their place in the Europa League semi-finals after overcoming Villarreal 2-1 at Vicente Calderón Stadium on Wednesday night. The victory was all the more impressive given that Diego Simeone made three changes to his starting XI, including bringing on new signing Antoine Griezmann as a substitute.
The Frenchman had been a subject of transfer speculation in recent weeks, but he came up trumps for Atlético by scoring the winner from close range in the 85th minute. It was a well-deserved goal for Griezmann, who has struggled for form this season, but it was also a testament to Simeone's tactical acumen.
The Argentine coach used his squad depth effectively throughout the game, making substitutions at key moments to ensure his team remained competitive. He was able to make the most of the attacking threat posed by Griezmann, who scored twice against Real Betis earlier in the week.
Villarreal, meanwhile, were unable to find the breakthrough despite dominating possession and creating several chances. Their lack of creativity was evident, with the team struggling to create clear-cut opportunities to score.
Despite their efforts, Villarreal will be disappointed not to progress further in the competition. However, they can take heart from the fact that they gave one of the top teams in Europe a real scare.
Overall, it was a remarkable performance from Atlético Madrid, who showed their class once again to secure a place in the Europa League semi-finals. With Griezmann's goal and Simeone's tactical brilliance, there is no doubt that they will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in European football.