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Champions League: Antoine Griezmann helps Atletico Madrid advance

By Alex Butler
AS Monaco's Benoit Badiashile (R) vies for the ball against Atletico's Antoine Griezmann (L) during the UEFA Champions League group A soccer match between Atletico de Madrid and AS Monaco on Wednesday at Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. Photo by Rodrigo Jimenez/EPA-EFE
AS Monaco's Benoit Badiashile (R) vies for the ball against Atletico's Antoine Griezmann (L) during the UEFA Champions League group A soccer match between Atletico de Madrid and AS Monaco on Wednesday at Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. Photo by Rodrigo Jimenez/EPA-EFE

Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Antoine Griezmann and Koke scored the only goals in Atletico Madrid's 2-0 Champions League win against Monaco on Wednesday at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid.

The victory clinched a spot in the round of 16 for the home squad.

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Griezmann also provided the assist on Koke's score in the second minute of the group stage clash. The French star stood on the left flank before receiving a ball. He used his first touch to send a strike into the middle of the pitch, finding Koke about 30 yards from the net.

Koke settled the ball before blasting it with his right foot. The shot deflected off of a Monaco defender before going into the near post netting and beating Monaco's Diego Benaglio.

Griezmann's score came just 22 minutes later. Fellow striker Angel Correa provided the helper for that 24th minute tally. Griezmann dribbled through traffic before tapping the ball to his left and finding Correa on that play. Correa bolted into the Monaco box before taking on a defender and forcing him to the ground with his quick movements.

He eventually slid a left-footed pass over to Griezmann, who stopped the ball with his right foot before finishing with his left boot into the right side of the net.

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Monaco's Radamel Falcao had an excellent chance to cut the Atletico lead in half in the 83rd minute, but his penalty kick sailed wide right of the goal.

The draw for the Champions League's round of 16 is on Dec. 17.

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