Fernando Torres made a winning return to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday as the Spanish champions secured an impressive 2-0 victory over city rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
Midfielder Raul Garcia converted a 57th-minute penalty in the first leg match of the Copa’s round-of-16, before Jose Gimenez headed Atletico’s second goal in the 76th minute.
Torres, who supported Atletico as a boy and went on to make 244 appearances for the club, was applauded as he went off in the 59th minute at Vicente Calderon. Four minutes later, Real sent on Cristiano Ronaldo to try and spark a comeback.
Photo: Reuters
Torres returned to Atletico on loan from AC Milan during this month’s transfer window.
Wednesday was his first win with Atletico over Real after nine previous attempts in his first stint in Spain, though he did beat Real twice with Liverpool.
“It feels good, as it always does when you beat a rival,” Torres said. “I’m happy for many things, for my return, for the team’s victory and for the great atmosphere in the stands.”
The victory showed how times have changed in the Spanish capital since Torres last played in the city in 2007. Then, Atletico were mired in what would prove to be a 14-year winless drought against Real that ended in the final of the 2012-2013 Copa del Rey.
Atletico have now beaten Real in the Copa, La Liga and the Super Cup since they lost to Real in the UEFA Champions League final last season.
In the league, Diego Simeone’s team have also pulled to within one point of Real, who have a game in hand, as they try to defend their title.
Atletico visit Barcelona on Sunday with both teams level on points behind the pacesetters, while Real Madrid have lost back-to-back games after finishing last year with a Spanish record 22-win streak.
“[Real] Madrid can’t lose and we have lost two,” Real defender Marcelo said. “Now we have to analyze why we lost so it doesn’t happen again.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Villarreal beat Real Sociedad for a second time in a month with a 1-0 victory.
Denis Cheryshev scored the winner in the 72nd minute as Villarreal extended their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions.
Alvaro Negredo converted a penalty four minutes from time to give Valencia a 2-1 win at home over RCD Espanyol after Christian Stuani had canceled out Jose Gaya’s opener for the hosts.
Quique Sanchez Flores’ first match as coach of Getafe ended in a 1-1 draw at UD Almeria.
Almeria’s Jose “Verza” Garcia scored both an own-goal and a penalty.
Simeone got the type of match he wanted, a physical test that annulled Real’s individual talent and saw 10 yellow cards handed out.
Sergio Ramos had Real’s best chance just seconds after kickoff when a corner-kick set him up to send in a powerful header that goalkeeper Jan Oblak did well to turn away.
Torres was most active at the start with his runs at Real’s defense, before fading as Atletico looked to Antoine Griezmann to lead the attack.
Gareth Bale volleyed Marcelo’s long pass past the post as Real pushed early in the second half, but it was Atletico who struck first when helped by Ramos — who brought down Garcia in the penalty area.
Madrid did not improve with Ronaldo on the pitch and Atletico turned to their most dangerous weapon, set-pieces, to double their advantage.
Gimenez, the 19-year-old centerback starting for the injured Miranda, maneuvered through the melee to the near post where he thumped in substitute Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion’s corner-kick.
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