Mitch Freeley

Summer signings João Félix and Kieran Tripper impressed as Atletico Madrid kick-started their La Liga campaign with a feisty 1-0 win over Getafe on Sunday evening. Both sides were reduced to ten men in the first half, with Jorge Molina Vidal and Renan Lodi sent off. 

Diego Simone’s side is one of the favourites for the La Liga crown this season and made the perfect start to the campaign with two summer signings combining to open the scoring. 

England international defender Kieran Tripper found Alvaro Morata with an inch-perfect cross from the right-wing, who duly planted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. A perfect start for Tripper, who became the first-ever Englishman to play Atletico Madrid in the league with his debut. 

The complexion of the game changed on the 38th minute when Getafe forward Jorge Molina Vidal was shown a red for a raking challenge on Thomas Partey, which was reviewed and given after a VAR review. 

It wasn’t long till Atletico Madrid was reduced to ten men for a second yellow on Renan Lodi, the Brazilian right-back jumping into Damián Suárez to receive his marching orders. 

The second half saw summer signing João Félix go some way in justifying his huge transfer fee, winning a penalty following a mazy solo run. Starting from the halfway line, the Portuguese teenager evaded three tackles before being pulled down in the box. It’s just a shame that Alvaro Morata was unable to convert the spot-kick with David Soria easily saving the effort. 

Getafe was reduced to a few chances in the second half of the contest.  A free-kick from Fayçal Fajr smashed against the Atleti wall. Whilst substitute Ángel Rodríguez crashed a shot against the crossbar with minutes to spare with Jan Oblak well beaten. In the end, the hosts ran out winners, and Simone will be pleased with how his summer signings settled so well to life at the Wanda Metropolitano.