Ending their three-match winless run, Atlético Madrid demolished Las Palmas by a 5-0 scoreline to improve their near-perfect La Liga home record (12 wins, one draw) this campaign.Having not conceded a first-half strike across their 10 league victories this campaign, Marcos Llorente’s brace within the opening 20 minutes was an ominous sign for Las Palmas. The Gran Canaria-based outfit were dealt two blows in quick succession after some poor defending, as Llorente first pounced on a ricochet with aplomb before being set up by Ángel Correa inside the box, netting Atleti’s second and his sixth La Liga goal this season with a low finish. Keeping up their best current scoring streak against the same league opposition – now having scored 44 goals in their last 21 league head-to-head encounters – the Colchoneros sat comfortably in the driving seat going into the break.García Pimienta’s men needed to stage a comeback in just their second visit to the Cívitas Metropolitano, but the story was no different following the restart. This time, it was Correa’s turn to net a brace in the course of proceedings. First, the Argentine, sneaking in behind a disorientated Amarillos backline, picked up Koke’s headed pass and drove in a superb finish. With just over an hour played, a cynical challenge by Marvin Park in the box gave Correa the opportunity to smash in Atleti’s eighth consecutive successful spot-kick – their longest streak since September 2013. In the end, substitute Memphis Depay put the cherry on the cake, netting the hosts’ fifth with a fantastic shot into the roof of the net to cap off a five-star performance.A consolation was out of reach as well for Las Palmas, who ultimately failed to score in their sixth away league trip to current top-half clubs. The defeat – which marks the Amarillos’ heaviest on the road this season – derails their dream of a first European spot since 1977/78, although it remains a realistic prospect with 13 rounds to go. On the other hand, Atleti extend their unbeaten home head-to-head streak to 20 matches, having last tasted a home head-to-head defeat back in September 1969, as the statement win reinforces their intention to secure a top-four La Liga finish.LA LIGAFridayVillarreal – Getafe 1-1 (0-1)/Moreno 56 – Maksimovic 24/SaturdayAtl.Madrid – Las Palmas 5-0 (2-0)/Llorente 15, 20, Correa 47, 62 pen, Depay 87/18.15: (1.80) Osasuna (3.40) Cadiz (4.90)20.30: (4.10) Celta (3.50) Barcelona (1.90)23.00: (2.40) Valencia (3.35) Sevilla (3.25)Sunday16.00: (5.70) Rayo Vallecano (3.80) Real Madrid (1.63)18.15: (2.20) Granada (3.50) Almeria (3.50)20.30: (3.05) Mallorca (3.00) Sociedad (2.55)23.00: (2.10) Betis (3.30) Alaves (3.70)***odds are subject to change
