Atletico second as Carrasco, Griezmann strikes down Sevilla

Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - September 23, 2017 Atletico Madrid players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid warmed up for next week’s Champions League clash with Chelsea by brushing aside Sevilla 2-0 at home on Saturday thanks to second-half strikes from Yannick Carrasco and Antoine Griezmann.

New Atletico striker Diego Costa, whose transfer from Chelsea was agreed this week, watched on from the stands as both sides hit the woodwork in the opening 20 minutes of an even first period.

It was all Atletico, however, after the break.

Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - September 23, 2017 Atletico Madrid's Luciano Vietto in action with Sevilla’s Clement Lenglet REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

Carrasco raced onto former Sevilla striker Luciano Vietto’s through ball to round the onrushing goalkeeper and slot home minutes after the restart, before Griezmann then put the result beyond doubt from close range with just over 20 minutes to play.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico side, who face Chelsea at home on Wednesday, leapfrog Sevilla into second place on 14 points, one behind league leaders Barcelona, who face Catalan rivals Girona in Saturday’s late kick off.

Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - September 23, 2017 Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

(Reporting by Joseph Cassinelli; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - September 23, 2017 Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco celebrates scoring their first goal with fans REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - September 23, 2017 Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez in action with Sevilla’s Franco Vazquez REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - September 23, 2017 Sevilla’s Jesus Navas in action with Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - September 23, 2017 Sevilla’s Luis Muriel in action with Atletico Madrid's Sime Vrsaljko REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - September 23, 2017 Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann scores their second goal REUTERS/Javier Barbancho