Antoine Griezmann scored a hat-trick as Atletico Madrid defeated Getafe 3-0 in the Spanish league on Wednesday to secure a Champions League spot next season.
The France international scored twice in the first half and again in the second to give Atletico their 12th straight appearance in Europe’s top club competition.
The victory at Getafe moved Atletico Madrid 11 points clear of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao with two rounds remaining. Athletic’s hopes of making it to the Champions League ended with a 2-1 loss at Celta Vigo.
Griezmann hadn’t scored since a brace in Atletico’s 3-1 win against Girona five matches ago.
“We’ve been qualifying for the Champions League for many years now, that has to be valued,” Griezmann said.
It was Atletico’s fourth straight league victory. It was the third straight defeat for Getafe.
Three teams fighting against relegation won on Wednesday. In addition to Celta’s win against Athletic, Rayo Vallecano beat Granada 2-1 at home and Cadiz won 1-0 at Sevilla.
Celta opened a five-point gap to Cadiz, who remain the first team inside the relegation zone. Rayo were one point ahead of Celta. Cadiz sat four points inside the demotion area.
Rayo got the win over Granada despite playing with 10 men after Oscar Trejo was sent off in the fifth minute.
Nice chance ruined
Paris St Germain beat 10-man Nice 2-1 away in Ligue 1, leaving the hosts with no chance of a top-four finish.
PSG, who have already clinched the title and are preparing for the Coupe de France final on May 25, have 73 points, while Nice are fifth on 54 points. With one match remaining, they are four points behind fourth-placed Brest, ensuring they cannot qualify for the Champions League.
Bradley Barcola opened the scoring for Luis Enrique’s side in the 18th minute and Yoram Zague added a second five minutes later.
Test for Napoli
Napoli’s defence of the Serie A title has long since ended and they must beat Fiorentina on Friday to have any hope of playing European football next season.
Napoli strolled to the Scudetto last year. This time around it was Inter Milan who wrapped up the league, and Napoli are ninth in the standings, with a Conference League spot their only chance of European competition.
