MADRID – Real Madrid fought back from a goal down to defeat city rivals Atletico 3-1 in the first leg of the Spanish Cup quarter-finals on Thursday. Atletico were ahead after just seven minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu when Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan was on target following a bright burst from Sergio Aguero which was ended by goalkeeper Iker Casillas’s clumsy challenge. But Sergio Ramos powered in a header from an Angel Di Maria corner in the 14th minute to bring the home side level before Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil added second half strikes to give Real breathing space ahead of the second leg next week.
Atletico’s young goalkeeper David De Gea pulled off a string of fine first-half saves to keep his side in the contest, particularly alert to a header from Portuguese international centre-half Ricardo Carvalho. But he was powerless to keep out Real after the break. Ronaldo gave his side the lead in the 61st minute when he stretched to steer in a cross from German star Ozil past De Gea.
Ozil then grabbed the third in stoppage time after a defensive error allowed him to chip the ball home from close range.
There was a bad-tempered end to the match, however, when Aguero and Ramos clashed and as their row continued, missiles were thrown onto the pitch.
In the night’s other game, Almeria edged Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 thanks to a first-half own goal from on-loan Norwegian defender Knut Olav Rindaroy.
JUVENTUS IN LAST EIGHT: Gianluigi Buffon made his comeback after seven months out as Juventus moved into the Coppa Italia quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Catania on Thursday.
Serbia winger Milos Krasic netted the opener on 34 minutes and Italy wideman Simone Pepe sealed the victory nine minutes after the restart. In a difficult season in which Juve crashed out of the Europa League in the group stages and sit down in sixth in Serie A, nine points off leaders AC Milan, this competition represents their best chance of silverware. Juve coach Luigi Delneri picked a full-strength side, including Italian goalkeeper Buffon who suffered a herniated disc in his back during the World Cup in South Africa and had not played since.
