MADRID: Dutch forward Memphis Depay got off the mark with two goals for Atletico Madrid as the side thrashed Sevilla 6-1 in La Liga on Saturday.
Antoine Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco also scored goals each before Alvaro Morata had a brace in the win that marked manager Diego Simeone’s record 613th game as coach.
Atletico seized the opportunity to go third in the standing with 45 points after Real Sociedad drew at home 0-0 against 14th-placed Cadiz on Friday.
Sociedad now sit fourth on 44 points, while holders Real Madrid are second on 52 points with leaders Barcelona seven points ahead of them, both with a game in hand.
Sevilla end up 16th with 25 points, only one point clear of the relegation zone, after consecutive defeats in the last three games.
Atletico dominated the visitors completely throughout the game to record Simone’s 359th win as the club’s manager compared to Luis Aragones’ 308.
Playing his first game for Atletico since he transferred from Barcelona in January, Depay received a long pass from the French forward Griezmann and slotted past the goalkeeper to open the scoring in the 23rd minute.
The Dutch striker doubled the lead three minutes later with another assist from Giezmann.
Sevilla retaliated through Youssef En Nesyri, who was quick enough to beat goalkeeper Jan Oblak inside the box from close range and made it 2-1 in the 39th minute.
Atletico, however, unleashed a more vigorous attack in the second half with Griezmann regaining the two-goal cushion for his side eight minutes after the break.
Carrasco extended Atletico’s lead in the 69th minute, before Ivan Rakitic missed a penalty, hitting the post from the spot.
Substitute Morata delivered the final blows to a hopeless Sevilla, who had Pape Alassane Gueye sent off in the 81st minute.
Earlier Mallorca beat Elche thanks to Lucas Boye’s late winner two minutes before time while Villarreal dominated Almeria 2-0 to go sixth on the table.
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