Luis Suarez scored twice and provided an assist in a superb 24-minute cameo on his Atletico Madrid debut, showing former club Barcelona a sign of what they could be missing after his bitter departure.
Suarez came off the bench to replace Diego Costa in the 70th minute of Atletico’s game against Granada with his team 3-0 up, and set about making an instant impact for his new club.
The Uruguayan teed up fellow substitute Marcos Llorente for a finish two minutes later, before finding the net himself with a looping header at the back post in the 85th minute.
He capped his cameo with a finish in added time, initially striking the post with a shot from the edge of the box but following up and finishing the rebound.
70′ Luis Suarez subs on for Atletico Madrid debut72’ Assist85’ Goal90+3’ Goal? @brfootballpic.twitter.com/Hw55EQQijW
FT #AtletiGranada 6-1TWO goals and ONE assist for debutant @LuisSuarez9 as @atletienglish hit SIX! ❤️?#LiveResultspic.twitter.com/vdHJyrph2R
Atletico ran out 6-1 winners and even though it’s very early days, football fans were already positing that Suarez and Atletico could be a dream match, especially under the guidance of gritty Argentine manager Diego Simeone.
Suarez right now pic.twitter.com/T4ImzqUHhd
What a start for Suárez. Two goals and an assist in just 20 minutes during his debut for Atléti. Simeone and Suárez really could be the perfect match.
Suarez, 33, bid Barcelona an emotional farewell last week which was tinged with bitterness at the nature of his exit.
Despite his six years of service at the Catalans – during which time he netted 195 goals, putting him third on the club’s all-time list – he was deemed surplus to requirements by Barcelona bosses amid the summer clearout initiated in the wake of their disastrous 2019-20 campaign.
The decision particularly infuriated friend and former strike partner Lionel Messi, who lashed out at Barca bosses for “kicking Suarez out” of the club.
Social media users were adamant that Suarez now has even more of a point to prove, and the decision to get rid of him could come back to bite Barcelona.
❗Suarez is that kind of a player that should still be in the team no matter what ?And Bartomeu sold him for nothing to our very rival ? pic.twitter.com/RlrAdofyEQ
Barcelona fans really convinced us all that Luis Suarez is finished… just the 2 goals and 1 assist on his Atletico debut.
Suarez will bite barca https://t.co/OnQzh5pX2e
