Pablo Barrios scored twice as Atletico Madrid bounced back from their opening defeat to beat the Seattle Sounders in the Club World Cup.
Atleti were thrashed by PSG in their opener but were much more like their old selves against MLS opposition.
Giuliano Simeone found Barrios after a smart break away to open the scoring in the 11th minute with a wicked shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
WHAT A GOAL BY PABLO BARRIOS!
WOW 🤯💥👀@Atletienglish
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Atleti were then awarded a penalty, but a VAR review found that the fould was outside the box.
Madrid doubled their lead in the opening minutes of the second half as substitute Axel Witsel headed in from close range after another stinging shot had hit the woodwork.
Albert Rusnak got Seattle on the scoreboard with a sharp low finish, but Barrios got his second of the game to seal the win with a cushioned half volley after the Sounders could not clear a throw.
Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said: “The players showed courage today. I mean, they were down, and they were able to come back and still fight and play brave.
“You know Atletico’s strength is in their transition, their counter attacks, but we weren’t afraid to attack. And that opened us up a few times, but at the end of the day, the players played to win, and that was courage.”
