koke to the fore as atlético see off malmö published: wednesday 22 october 2014, 23.11cet club atlético de madrid 5-0 malmö ff koke was the central figure, scoring the first goal and setting up the next three as last season's runners-up hit five in the second half.
by joseph walker from estadio vicente calderón
• atlético score five second-half goals to see off malmö • koke, who also supplied three assists, breaks the deadlock (48) • two quick goals from mario mandžukić (61) and antoine griezmann (63) • diego godín (87) and alessio cerci (90+3) complete emphatic win • next games: malmö v atlético (4 november)
five second-half goals, and a majestic individual display from koke, helped club atlético de madrid see off malmö ff in ultimately comfortable fashion.
the visitors, who were the first away outfit to play at the vicente calderón in the european cup 48 years ago, held out until the 48th minute when koke scored from close range. the midfielder then set up goals for mario mandžukić, antoine griezmann and diego godín before substitute alessio cerci added a fifth in added time.
with all four group a sides on three points after two games, victory here would have been a significant steps towards the round of 16, and the game duly opened at breakneck speed with both teams looking to take the initiative. malmö had a shot on goal within the first minute, while the rojiblancos responded with a flurry of corners that eventually led to saúl ñíguez having an effort ruled out for offside.
gradually the hosts began to dominate, griezmann unable to take advantage of a ball over the top as goalkeeper robin olsen forced him wide enough for the defence to recover. the frenchman then went even closer, latching on to a through ball from arda turan and beating olsen; this time he was denied by the crossbar and mandžukić's follow-up header was blocked on the line by erik johansson.
the second half started in a similar vein, and this time it took only three minutes for the spanish champions to open the scoring as koke swept in from close range after some neat interplay. mario suárez then forced olsen into action again, although emil forsberg offered a timely reminder of malmö's danger on the break as he fired wide just before the hour.
that was to prove a pivotal moment as atlético's second quickly followed, koke turning provider for mandžukić to tap in. two minutes later griezmann got the goal his performance merited from koke's pass, a stinging shot looping in off olsen.
koke made it three assists by supplying the corner from which stand-in captain godín powered in an 87th-minute header before substitute alessio cerci scored his first for the club in stoppage time to round off an enjoyable evening for last season's runners-up.
