Fernando Torres stole the show with a dramatic double as Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid secured a battling 2-2 draw at Real Madrid that dumped the holders out of the King’s Cup 4-2 on aggregate.
Back at his boyhood club on loan after seven and a half years of mixed fortunes in England and Italy, Torres stunned the Bernabeu with a goal in the first minute of each half, the first time he has scored against Madrid on their own turf.
Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo twice headed the home side level but Atlético, who won last week’s last-16 first leg at the Calderon 2-0, comfortably held out to set up a quarter-final clash against record winners Barcelona.
A second-string Barca were far too strong for La Liga rivals Elche and a 4-0 victory wrapped up a thumping 9-0 aggregate success for Luis Enrique’s side.
«The fact that we scored so early meant we could play the game we wanted,» Torres, who was substituted just before the hour, said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus.
«We never felt the tie was in danger and we weren’t under stress,» added the former Liverpool and Chelsea forward.
«I was smiling when I came off because of the win and for scoring my first two goals (since I returned to Spain) and also for doing it in a stadium where I hadn’t managed it before.»
Madrid fans had evoked cherished memories of previous cup fightbacks in the run-up to their latest derby against Atlético but their chances of turning the tie around were dealt a stinging blow after 46 seconds.
Atlético’s France forward Antoine Griezmann sped down the left and sent over a perfect cross for Torres to lash a left-foot shot high into the net past goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald