Fernando Torres scored his first two goals since returning to Atletico Madrid last week, helping eliminate defending champion Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey.
Torres scored 50 seconds into the game and added a goal in the first minute of the second half as Atletico tied 2-2 tie at Real on Thursday night and advanced on 4-2 aggregate to a quarterfinal against Barcelona.
Torres played for Atletico from 2000-07 but had never scored in six previous games for Atletico at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. He returned to his old team following a highly successful stretch at Liverpool (2007-11) and dismal times at Chelsea (2011-14) and AC Milan (2014).
Sergio Ramos scored in the 20th minute for Real, and Cristiano Ronaldo got a goal off a header in the 54th. It was the 34th goal in 29 games this season for Ronaldo, who earned his third FIFA Player of the Year award on Monday and paraded the trophy for fans on the field before the game.
Madrid has one win in four matches since finishing 2014 with a Spanish record 22-game winning streak.
Atletico’s Fernando Torres celebrates as he salutes Atletico’s fans. [AP Photo/Andres Kudacki]
ITALY
Juventus routed Hellas Verona 6-1 to reach the Italian Cup quarterfinals as Sebastian Giovinco scored twice and won a penalty kick.
Alvaro Morata, Roberto Pereyra, Paul Pogba and Kingsley Coman also scored for Juventus, which plays Parma — Serie A’s last-place team — in the quarterfinals on Jan. 28.
Verona goalie Rafael fails to stop a free-kick for Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco to score his side’s first goal, during an Italian Cup, round of sixteen soccer match between Juventus and Verona. [AP Photo/Andrea Di Marco, Ansa]
