Published: 11:20, January 19, 2024 | Updated: 11:26, January 19, 2024
Copa del Rey: Atletico earn 4-2 win over Real to reach quarters
By Reuters

Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak, (center) fails to save a goal during the Copa del Rey round of 16 soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Madrid, Spain, on Jan 18, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

MADRID - Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme scored in extra time to give Atletico Madrid a 4-2 derby victory over last year's champions Real Madrid that earned Diego Simeone's side a Copa del Rey quarter-final place on Thursday.

A week after the rivals clashed in a 5-3 Real win in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals in Saudi Arabia, they met again in a peppery affair at a packed Metropolitano that was also decided with two extra-time goals, but now in Atletico's favor.

Atletico winger Samuel Lino opened the scoring for the hosts from a counter-attack in the 39th minute, tapping in from point-blank range after center back Antonio Rudiger miskicked a clearance backwards to gift him the ball.

But goalkeeper Jan Oblak returned the favor when he made a mistake trying to punch a Luka Modric free kick away and sent the ball into his own net right before the break.

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Real Madrid's German defender #22 Antonio Rudiger (right) holds Atletico Madrid's Spanish forward #19 Alvaro Morata 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 Jan 18, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

Another error ended in a goal when in the 57th minute midfielder Eduardo Camavinga sent a poor pass back to his own area which confounded goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and Rudiger, the ball falling to Alvaro Morata who tapped it into an empty net.

In the 82nd minute, Morata missed a sitter from close range which led to a Real counter-attack. Jude Bellingham crossed to Joselu who headed the equalizer to take the match to extra time.

Griezmann worked his magic in the 100th minute to steal the ball from Vinicius Jr on the halfway line and burst up the right channel and into the box to score. Riquelme secured the win in the 119th minute with a tidy finish.

"Lately, our games against Real have been very beautiful for the spectator. With a very high tempo, decided in extra time. Today it was our turn to win it. I'm happy for our fans and for Antoine Griezmann who scored a great goal," captain Koke told Movistar Plus.

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Atletico will join Barcelona, Girona, Real Socieda, Celta Vigo, Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla in the quarter-final draw.