Diego Godin and Fran Merida pleased with Atletico Madrid win over Las Palmas
Atletico Madrid duo Diego Godin and Fran Merida say they are pleased with their side’s victory over Las Palmas in the first leg of the sides’ Copa del Rey clash on Wednesday, 27 October.
Both players netted in the comprehensive 5-0 win, a match for which the visitors were in complete control. Argentina international Sergio Aguero bagged a double while Diego Costa also scored.
Merida, who claimed his first goal for the club since moving to Spain from English Premier League giants Arsenal over the summer, told reporters that: “We have managed a very large victory, but we must respect the opponent. In the second leg, we will go
out to win at the Vicente Calderon.
“Personally, I am happy to have played 90 minutes and to have scored, but mostly because the team have managed to produce a good result.”
'Result will allow players to be rested'
Godin, who also joined Atletico during the summer transfer window,added that the comprehensive nature of the victory should be enough to secure progression to the next round, allowing head coach Quique Sanchez Flores to rest important players during the
return match.
He said that: “I am happy for the goal I’ve scored, but also by the result achieved by the collective. The scoreline will allow us to rest players in the return match.”
The victory in the cup competition follows on the back of a good run in the Primera Division that has taken UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup holders Atletico to eighth place in the table with 13 points from eight games.
Their good league form has not quite been reflected in the defence of their European title, however. They have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three group stage games so far to leave them a point behind Bayer Leverkusen.
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