A subdued Fernando Torres helped Atletico Madrid to a 2-0 win over local rivals Real in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie on Wednesday in his first start since his return to his boyhood club.
Raul Garcia scored from the penalty spot after 58 minutes after he was fouled by Sergio Ramos and Jose Gimenez nodded in a corner 15 minutes from time, but Torres was very quiet and was taken off after an hour.
The striker came through the Atletico youth system and went on to be club captain before a move to Liverpool in 2007, but this was the first time he was on the winning side in a Madrid derby.
“I am very happy to return, for the victory and how we played; 2-0 is a great result to take to the Bernabeu,” he told reporters.
“I had butterflies in my stomach both at my presentation (last Sunday) and during this game.”
Real finished 2014 on a 22-match winning run but lost to Valencia in La Liga on Sunday and face a mountain to climb to turn the tie around at the Bernabeu.