Antoine Griezmann and Koke score in Atletico Madrid win over Las Palmas

Antoine Griezmann and Koke both found the net as Atletico Madrid started 2017 with a comfortable Copa del Rey win over Las Palmas, putting one foot in the competition’s final four.

Diego Simeone’s side were rarely troubled by the Gran Canarians, with Atletico fielding what was close to a full strength team for the trip to the island. The capital club were hardly at their best, but they did enough to claim the first leg win.

Koke opened the scoring after 24 minutes, finding the bottom corner of the Las Palmas net with a strike from the edge of the box. Griezmann added a second in the second half, nodding home from close range after Kevin Gameiro had headed a cross back across the face of goal.

Gameiro should have added a third just after the hour mark, but somehow blasted high and wide of the target when he should have found the back of the net instead. Nonetheless, Simeone will be pleased with his side’s comprehensive victory.

With Atletico Madrid slumped in sixth place in La Liga, nine points short of leaders and rivals Real Madrid, Simeone might start prioritising other competitions. They are performing well in the Champions League, but it might be the Copa del Rey that represents their best chance of silverware this season. It would go some way to explaining why Simeone fielded such a strong team for this match.

The midfielder has come in for some criticism this season, but he was the most influential player on the pitch against Las Palmas. Koke fancies himself as a central midfielder, but it’s on the left of the central unit where he is at his best. This performance illustrated what makes him so important to Atletico Madrid.

Las Palmas - Lizoian 6, Simon 6, David 5, Aythami 6, Castellano 5, Vicente 6, Hernan 5, Mesa 7, Viera 5, Asdrubal 6, El Zhar 5.

Atletico Madrid - Moya 6, Vrsaljko 7, Savic 5, Godin 5, Luis 6, Gabi 6, Saul 6, Koke 8, Juanfran 7, Griezmann 7, Gameiro 7.

24’ GOAL! Las Palmas 0-1 Atletico Madrid: Out of nowhere Atletico Madrid have the lead! Koke collects the ball on the edge of the box and finds the corner of the net with a low, bouncing strike. Goalkeeper should have done better.

51’ GOAL! Las Palmas 0-2 Atletico Madrid: Atletico Madrid have doubled their lead! A cross to the back post was headed back across goal by Gameiro and nodded home from close range by Griezmann.

67’ GAMEIRO SHOULD HAVE SCORED! That should have been Atletico Madrid's third goal of the night. Gameiro was put clean through, but he sent his half volley wide of the near post.

Antoine Griezmann ended a run of five games in all competitions without scoring. Not since October 2014 had he endured such a drought for Atletico Madrid.