MADRID: Fernando Torres scored his first Atletico Madrid goals in eight years with a dramatic double as the La Liga champions dumped holders Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey 4-2 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday.
Back at his boyhood club after seven years of mixed fortunes in England and Italy, Torres stunned the Bernabeu with a goal in the first minute of each half of the last-16, second leg. It was the first time he has scored against Real at their giant arena in the Spanish capital.
Already leading 2-0 from last week’s first-leg, Torres fired home Antoine Griezmann’s pass seconds into the Spanish capital derby to hand Atletico a vital away goal.
Sergio Ramos headed the home side level soon after, but Atletico hung on in its area until Griezmann set up Torres for his second goal just after the half-time restart.
Cristiano Ronaldo levelled the score again in an otherwise subdued night he began by parading his Ballon d’Or trophy but Atletico comfortably held out to set up a quarter-final clash against record winners Barcelona.
“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.”
A second-string Barca were far too strong for La Liga rivals Elche and wrapped up a thumping 9-0 aggregate success for Luis Enrique’s side
First-half goals by Jeremy Mathieu, Sergi Roberto and Pedro Rodriguez before Adriano netted in injury time sealed a 4-0 victory on the night for Barca at the Martinez Valero.
JUVENTUS HIT VERONA FOR SIX
TURIN (Italy): A second-string Juventus hammered Verona 6-1 to reach the Italian Cup quarter-finals on Thursday, with two goals coming from reserve striker Sebastian Giovinco, to remain on course for a league and cup double in Massimiliano Allegri’s first season in charge.
Giovinco, who has started only two Serie A games this season, opened the floodgates when he curled in a free kick after five minutes.
Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente, Andrea Pirlo and Giuseppe Buffon were among the Juve regulars who were rested, while Arturo Vidal was ruled out with tonsillitis.
Roberto Pereyra scored his first goal for Juventus with a neat chipped finish over Verona goalkeeper Rafael and Giovinco gave the hosts a 3-0 half-time lead when he turned in Stephan Lichtsteiner’s pass from close range.
Paul Pogba fired the fourth early in the second half, Alvaro Morata converted a penalty and Kingsley Coman completed the rout with his first goal for the club as Juve earned a quarter-final tie away to Parma.
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