Antoine Griezmann’s LaLiga career ended in disappointment as Villarreal tore Atlético Madrid apart to clinch third place.
Ayoze Pérez’s double, Dani Parejo’s penalty and goals from Georges Mikautadze and Pape Gueye sealed a 5-1 final-day win for Marcelino’s men at Estadio de la Ceramica to leave Atleti, who had started the day level with their opponents on both points and goal difference, in fourth.
On an evening when Griezmann made his final appearance for Atleti before joining MLS outfit Orlando City SC, the hosts started in a determined mood with wide-man Nicolas Pépé threatening on three occasions inside the opening 11 minutes.
They went ahead on the half-hour when, after goalkeeper Juan Musso had raced from his line and brought down Pépé, Parejo stepped up to dispatch the resulting spot kick, and they increased their lead within four minutes through Pérez’s sumptuous half-volley.
It was 3-0 five minutes before the break when Pérez capitalised on Clement Lenglet’s error to set up Mikautadze, who stepped inside defender Marc Pubill before firing emphatically past Musso.
Pubill reduced the deficit within three minutes after goalkeeper Arnau Tenas has misjudged Griezmann’s corner, but Gueye restored the home side’s three-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time with a superb left-footed finish.
Álex Baena smashed a 47th-minute volley well wide as Atleti attempted to force their way back into the game after the restart, but Pérez blasted past Musso from Pépé’s reverse pass seven minutes later to make it 5-1.
Musso denied Mikautadze a sixth at his near post with 10 minutes remaining as the Yellow Submarine cruised to the finishing line.
Information from PA was used in this recap.
