Atletico Madrid delivered a statement of intent on Tuesday night, overwhelming Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in a pulsating Champions League group stage clash at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. With Diego Simeone serving a touchline ban, the Spanish side barely missed a beat, surging to the top of their group with a performance brimming with attacking verve and clinical finishing.

The tone was set almost immediately. In just the fourth minute, new signing Giacomo Raspadori opened his Atletico account in style. The move began down the right, where Juliano Simeone showed both determination and skill to keep what looked a lost cause alive, driving a low cross into the box for Raspadori to finish emphatically—a first goal in red and white for the Italian after his summer move from Napoli.

Atletico’s pressure never relented. Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann both drew sharp saves as Frankfurt’s defense struggled to cope with the hosts’ movement. The inevitable second arrived on 33 minutes: Griezmann’s clever flick was parried, but Robin Le Normand reacted fastest, stabbing home the rebound to double the lead.

The crowd barely had time to catch its breath before a third goal capped a scintillating first half. Alvarez, lively and inventive all night, outfoxed his defender on the left before squaring for Griezmann, who coolly slotted home for his landmark 200th club goal—a milestone applauded even by neutrals.

Frankfurt, who had entered the match buoyed by their own recent goal-fest in the Bundesliga, could muster little in response until after the interval. Ten minutes into the second half, they briefly threatened a comeback: Jonathan Burkardt smashed home a consolation after Ans Garnoff’s persistence on the flank, making it 3-1. But the German side’s hopes quickly faded as Atletico resumed their assault, netting twice more to seal the rout.

As the clock ticked down, Atletico’s substitutes kept the intensity high, and the home fans reveled in a night that showcased the club’s depth and ambition in Europe. For Frankfurt, it was a harsh reality check after their own explosive Champions League opener.

This emphatic win not only puts Atletico in the driver’s seat for group qualification but also sends a clear message to their continental rivals: even without their iconic manager on the touchline, Los Colchoneros remain a force to be reckoned with.