Fernando Torres scored his first Atletico Madrid goals in eight years 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.
Already leading 2-0 from last week´s first-leg, Torres stunned the hosts inside the first minute when turning home Antoine Griezmann´s pass to hand Atletico a vital away goal.
Sergio Ramos pulled a goal back for Real, but Griezmann and Torres repeated the trick seconds into the second-half to restore Atletico´s lead.
Fresh from winning the third Ballon d´Or of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo ensured the home side at least salvaged a draw on the night, but they have now failed to beat Atletico in five meetings this season.
Atletico will face Barcelona in the last eight after the Catalans completed an 9-0 aggregate win over Elche as goals from Jeremy Mathieu, Sergi Roberto, Pedro Rodriguez and Adriano sealed a 4-0 victory on the night at the Martinez Valero.
Torres was only starting due to an illness suffered by Mario Mandzukic on the day before the game, but had by far his biggest impact since returning to the Spanish capital. “I am very happy. It was a game in which we had to feel comfortable due to the result in the first-leg and the early goal allowed us to play the game we wanted,” Torres told Canal Plus. “The tie was never in danger. We didn´t have to sweat it out.”