Atletico Madrid eased to a 2-0 victory over Lokomotiv Moscow in their first leg Europa League round of 16 tie at the Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday night.

The Spanish side are arguably the favourites to win the competition after surprisingly getting knocked out of the Champions League at the group stages.

Diego Simeone’s men started on the front foot and were quick to enforce their dominance in the tie. It was clear that the Russian side were happy to sit back and try to be difficult to break down.

After creating a few half chances, Atletico finally took the lead with 21 minutes gone. Saul Niguez picked up the ball just past the halfway line, beat his man and ran down the middle of the pitch, with the Lokomotiv defenders stepping off the midfielder he was allowed the time and space to let off a rocket into the top corner. Saul with one to remember, 1-0 to the home side.

Antoine Griezmann then had a great chance to double the lead. The Russian side’s goalkeeper Guilherme Marinato came a long way off his line and was caught in possession by the Frenchman. Griezmann, however, failed to hit the back of the net with the goal wide open, all be it from an acute angle.

Simeone’s men continued to search for another goal but failed to find it before the break, 1-0 at half time.

It didn’t take the home side long to double their lead in the second half though.

Saúl played a crossfield ball which found Griezmann in the box but the striker’s shot was well saved by Marinato.  Unfortunately for the keeper, the rebound fell straight to the feet of Diego Costa who had a tap in to make it 2-0 on 46 minutes.

Atletico Madrid all but wrapped up the tie with their third goal in the last minute of normal time. Juanfran won the ball in the final third and his driven cross was met by Koke who made it 3-0.

A resounding 3-0 win for Simeone’s men who will have a strong advantage going into the second leg in Russia.

Picture: Rodrigo Jimenez/Backpagepix