Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann shoots the ball during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Sporting CP at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. Pic/AFP

Spanish football giants Atletico Madrid defeated Sporting Lisbon 2-0 in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal tie here. Atleti, among the favourites to win the competition, were more dominant than the score would indicate and only some outstanding moments from Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio kept the game from turning into a rout on Thursday, reports Efe.