Goals from Raul Garcia and Jose Gimenez earned Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win over visiting Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 Copa del Rey clash this evening, as Fernando Torres made his return debut at the Vicente Calderon.
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Real should have taken the lead after only two minutes as Sergio Ramos rose highest to meet a cross from James Rodriguez, only for Atletico stopper Jan Oblak to make a standout save from close range.
The visitors had a goal disallowed in the 14th minute when Gareth Bale reacted quickest to turn home from a Rodriguez free kick, before seeing the official raise his flag against the Welshman.
Atletico almost had a great chance to grab a first-half lead when Raphael Varane produced a loose header to put Antoine Griezmann in, but the centre-back managed to pull off a last-ditch tackle to win the ball back, leaving the teams to go into the break level.
Atletico clawed back a foothold in the second period and they surprisingly found themselves ahead in the 58th minute when Garcia converted from the spot after Ramos was adjudged to have pulled down the midfielder inside the box.
The home side held firm under some insistent Real pressure and they were soon able to find another vital goal in the first leg through Gimenez, with the centre-back producing a commanding header from a Gabi corner in the 76th minute.
The visitors might have pulled a goal back in the final minutes of a game in which they shared much of the ball, but for Oblak to deny Toni Kroos down at the bottom corner as Diego Simeone's side left with the upper hand in the tie.
Christopher Dodd
