Girona fall into relegation zone as Atletico win on Griezmann's home farewell

Girona fought to stay in the top division by making the initial openings during the first eight minutes. Bryan Gil moved in from the right flank and sent a low curling shot just wide of the goal before Atletico could not clear a free kick properly and Vitor Reis tried a bicycle kick that Jan Oblak held safely.

Michel could not understand why his team did not lead soon afterwards when Joel Roca crossed for Gil to head in from six yards but the effort flew well wide. Atletico punished Girona for missing those opportunities midway through the first period.

After twenty minutes Antoine Griezmann in his last home game and on his five hundredth appearance for the club gave a signal of danger by collecting a pass from Ademola Lookman yet his attempt from a tight position was kept out by Paulo Gazzaniga.

One minute later the Atletico forwards swapped their parts as the Frenchman rolled the ball across the goal area for Lookman to finish simply.

Oblak kept hold of the ball as Viktor Tsygankov and Azzedine Ounahi struck from distance for the visitors and the goalkeeper also denied Alex Moreno after the defender advanced well.

At the opposite goal Griezmann was stopped again by the keeper and Marc Pubill lifted a good opening over the bar while Oblak saved once more from Tsygankov to maintain the lead at the interval.

Without a victory away from home since January Girona started the second half needing to improve as Arnau Martinez dragged a shot wide. Lookman did likewise a few minutes later and Alex Baena forced a save from Gazzaniga after a corner yet Girona pressed the home side back.

Shortly before the hour Tsygankov controlled the ball neatly but his strong shot went straight at Oblak.

The keepers work would have mattered less if Atletico had led by two goals which Thiago Almada could have achieved with a quarter of the match left but he chose to set up Griezmann instead and the striker failed to hit the target.

Oblak made one more good stop from a powerful half volley by Ounahi and Diego Simeone added pressure by introducing Alexander Sorloth whose counter ended with a shot that rolled just wide.

Griezmann did not score on his farewell at the Metropolitano stadium yet after Oblak made another fine save from Ounahi Atletico secured their fifteenth home victory of the season.

After nine games without a win Girona need to triumph on the last day and rely on other results to remain in the division.