Atletico Madrid dumped Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey at the last-16 stage on Thursday, as Antoine Griezmann scored a terrific solo goal in a 4-2 extra-time win for Diego Simeone’s men.
Four days on from their Supercopa de Espana triumph, Madrid were twice forced to come from behind in normal time, with a Jan Oblak own goal and a Joselu header salvaging a 2-2 draw in a frantic, error-strewn derby.
However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were unable to get over the line in the additional period, and Griezmann came up with the go-ahead goal when he held off Vinicius Junior before lashing home.
TAKE A BOW GRIEZMANN ???? pic.twitter.com/GdIb8zWwgw
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 18, 2024
With Madrid throwing men forward late on, Memphis Depay strode to the edge of the box to tee up Rodrigo Riquelme for a powerful finish, sending the Civitas Metropolitano into raptures and killing Madrid’s hopes of a quadruple.
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Madrid started the stronger of the teams and went close when Jude Bellingham rattled the crossbar at the end of a mazy run 11 minutes in, while Oblak had to be alert to deny Rodrygo and Vinicius with a strong double save.
Atletico went ahead against the run of play with six minutes remaining in the first half, Antonio Rudiger inadvertently heading Rodrigo De Paul’s cross into the path of Samuel Lino, who finished across Andriy Lunin and into the bottom-right corner.
However, their lead was wiped out in first-half stoppage time, with Oblak misjudging his punch from Luka Modric’s deep free-kick to send the ball spinning into his own net.
Madrid continued to dictate proceedings after the interval, but another goalkeeping error gifted Atletico a second goal as Lunin pushed a loose ball against Rudiger’s shin, allowing former Blancos striker Alvaro Morata to pounce for a simple finish into an empty net.
Rodrygo almost dragged Madrid level with 14 minutes to play as his prodded attempt deflected against the underside of the crossbar, before Lunin made a huge save at the other end to prevent Morata from killing the tie.
That save looked even more important when Madrid immediately hit their second equaliser on the break; Vinicius found Bellingham with a clever reverse pass, and the Englishman’s cross was headed in by the stooping Joselu at the far post.
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— Real Madrid C.F. ???????????????? (@realmadriden) January 18, 2024
Neither side was able to find a winner in normal time, with Vinicius going closest as his backheeled flick was kept out by Oblak. Ten minutes into extra time, however, Vinicius was punished for losing possession as Griezmann held the Brazilian off to drive inside and blast into the roof of the net.
Rudiger volleyed off-target as Madrid grew increasingly desperate in their search for a leveller, and Atletico took advantage to seal the win on the break, Riquelme finding the far corner to kill any hopes of a third Blancos comeback.
❤️???? The derby is Red & White!
Next stop: Copa del Rey quarterfinals ???? pic.twitter.com/u2mJmZD1Ga
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 18, 2024