"Atletico Madrid eliminate Real Madrid in an exhilarating victory in the Copa del Rey."

Atletico Madrid eliminated Real Madrid in an exhilarating victory in the Copa del Rey 

 

Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme secured Atletico Madrid's 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in extra time, propelling Diego Simeone's team into the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Thursday.

In a heated rematch following their clash in the Spanish Super Cup semifinals, Atletico gained the upper hand at the packed Metropolitano. Atletico winger Samuel Lino opened the scoring in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from Antonio Rüdiger. However, goalkeeper Jan Oblak's mistake gifted Real Madrid an equalizer just before halftime.

A midfield blunder by Eduardo Camavinga in the 57th minute led to Álvaro Morata tapping in a goal for Atletico. Despite Morata missing a crucial chance in the 82nd minute, Real leveled the score with Joselu's header, forcing the match into extra time.

Griezmann showcased his brilliance in the 100th minute, stealing the ball from Vinicius Junior and scoring a remarkable goal. Riquelme sealed the win in the 119th minute with a precise finish.

Diego Simeone praised his team's performance, describing Griezmann's goal as "amazing." The match, filled with intensity and drama, saw Simeone exchange heated words with Vinícius after the final whistle, seemingly upset with the player's celebration.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the competitiveness of the match, understanding Vinícius' emotional reaction. Ancelotti's unbeaten team, entering the game on a 21-match run, succumbed to Atletico in a thrilling encounter.

Captain Koke expressed satisfaction with the victory, highlighting the entertaining nature of their recent clashes with Real. Atletico now joins other teams like Barcelona, Girona, Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao, and Sevilla in the upcoming quarterfinal draw.