Antoine Griezmann delivered a stunning hat-trick as Atletico Madrid secured Champions League qualification with a resounding 3-0 victory over Getafe in La Liga action on Wednesday.
Diego Simeone's squad clinched a top-four finish, ensuring their 12th consecutive appearance in Europe's premier club competition.
Led by the brilliance of French international Griezmann, Atletico cruised to victory at Getafe's Coliseum Alfonso Perez in the suburbs of Madrid.
Atletico, currently fourth in the standings, sit two points behind Girona and hold an 11-point advantage over fifth-place Athletic Bilbao, who suffered a 2-1 defeat against struggling Celta Vigo.
Despite a promising start to the season, including a victory over eventual champions Real Madrid, Atletico faced setbacks in the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Athletic and a Champions League exit at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.
Aware that a win was crucial to secure Champions League football next season, Griezmann rose to the occasion, extinguishing any hopes for Getafe, who currently sit in 10th place.
Reflecting on the achievement, Griezmann stated, "It's been a lot of years getting into the Champions League, which is something to value, but with the team we have and the talent we have, and the coach we have, it's something we have to do."
The 33-year-old forward, who had faced scrutiny over his recent form, silenced critics with his second hat-trick of the campaign, emphasizing the collective effort of his teammates.
"My ankle was annoying me a lot... working with the physios and pushing hard, the pain has gone and I can enjoy myself," added Griezmann.
Scoring his first goal in the 27th minute, Griezmann capitalized on Rodrigo De Paul's assist to beat Getafe goalkeeper David Soria with a low strike.
He doubled his tally before halftime, converting Angel Correa's pass after a VAR review overturned an offside decision.
Griezmann completed his hat-trick in the second half, finishing off a slick Atletico move with a precise finish at the near post.
Praising his team's performance, Simeone highlighted the importance of securing Champions League qualification and commended his players for their collective effort.
In other La Liga action, Celta's comeback victory over Athletic dampened Cadiz's survival hopes, despite Cadiz's late 1-0 win against Sevilla. With Sergio Guardiola's last-minute winner, Cadiz remains four points from safety with two matches remaining.
