Atletico defeats rival Real Madrid to reach Copa del Rey quarters
Atletico Madrid’s French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann is lifted by Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan defender #02 Jose Gimenez after scoring his team’s third goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on January 18, 2024. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme’s extra-time strikes earned Atletico Madrid a 4-2 win over rival Real Madrid and passage to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Thursday.
The duo settled an entertaining battle at the Rojiblancos’ Metropolitano stadium, the second of three Madrid derbies in under a month.
Los Blancos twice pegged back Atletico to take the game to extra-time, with Jan Oblak’s own goal cancelling out Samuel Lino’s opener, and Joselu netting late on after Alvaro Morata had put the hosts in front again.
In extra-time Griezmann broke down the right and finished with aplomb with Riquelme striking at the death to settle the game and avenge Atletico’s defeat by Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final last week.
Real Madrid romped to a 5-3 win over Diego Simeone’s side before thrashing rivals Barcelona to win the trophy.
The Argentine coach said this match would be a new opportunity for his team, and so it proved, the match flowing end-to-end, albeit without the total abandon proffered by both sides in Saudi Arabia.
Real Madrid threatened first with Jude Bellingham hitting the crossbar, before Atletico took the lead.
Antonio Rudiger, who struck against Atletico in Riyadh, tried to head a cross to safety but ended up nodding it into the path of Lino, who finished from close range.
However Madrid leveled before the break when Luka Modric’s crossed free-kick drew Oblak out of his goal.
The Slovenian, leaping to reach the ball but unable to grab it, ended up getting the final touch as it span into his own net.
Atletico Madrid’s Spanish midfielder #25 Rodrigo Riquelme celebrates scoring is team’s fourth goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on January 18, 2024. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior celebrated the equalizer more fiercely than anyone, with no love lost between the Brazilian and Atletico’s supporters.
The home fans were jubilant early in the second half when Morata sent Atletico back ahead, after Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin failed to gather the ball, and it fell into the striker’s path.
It was Morata’s 18th goal of an impressive campaign to date, across all competitions.
Real Madrid hit the woodwork a second time through Rodrygo and Lunin denied Morata from point-blank range before Joselu equalised with 10 minutes to go.
After Vinicius slipped in Bellingham, the England international cleverly sliced the ball across for the target man to nod home and send the match to extra-time.
Griezmann cut through a tense first additional period with a brilliant solo run down the right wing, escaping Vinicius and finishing lethally across Lunin into the top corner to send Atletico ahead.
Substitute Dani Ceballos levelled for Madrid in the 111th minute but Bellingham was offside in the build up and the goal was ruled out, with Riquelme tucking home to settle the match.
Victory meant a lot to Atletico, off the pace in La Liga and hurt by the prior Madrid defeat, and they celebrated wildly with their fans.
Earlier Barcelona reached the last eight with a 3-1 win over third-tier Unionistas de Salamanca.
