MADRID — Fernando Torres tasted victory against Real Madrid as an Atletico Madrid player for the first time as the La Liga champion downed its city rival 2-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie Wednesday. Despite a disappointing performance from Torres on his first appearance since rejoining Atletico on loan from AC Milan, the host beat Real for the third time in four attempts this season thanks to Raul Garcia's penalty and a thumping header from Jose Gimenez after half-time.
Last season's Cup winner will now have it all to do when the two sides meet again for the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Jan. 15.
Both coaches signaled that their priorities lay elsewhere prior to kick off as Cristiano Ronaldo was left on the bench by Carlo Ancelotti, while Diego Simeone made seven changes to the side that beat Levante 3-1 at the weekend.
However, the host was indebted to one of those coming into the side after just two minutes when Jan Oblak brilliantly parried a towering header from Sergio Ramos, reminiscent of his equalizer in the Champions League final between the two sides in May which swung the match in Real's favor.
The visitors then had a goal rightly ruled out from another setpiece as Gareth Bale was flagged offside when he headed James Rodriguez's free-kick into the far corner.
Straight from the free-kick, Atletico then had its first effort on goal as Oblak released Antoine Griezmann with a long ball and his low effort was turned behind by Keylor Navas.
Griezmann was then presented with Atletico's best chance of the opening 45 minutes when he robbed Rafael Varane and closed in on goal, but his French international teammate recovered to avert the danger with a fine last-ditch challenge.
Torres, meanwhile, was enduring a nightmare opening half as he consistently gave the ball away and was caught offside on numerous occasions.
Real passed up a couple of half chances to go in ahead at the break as Benzema fired straight at Oblak before Sami Khedira headed over when unmarked inside the area.
The visitors also had the first opening of the second period when Bale prodded wide from a narrow angle.
However, it was Atletico which finally made the breakthrough when Garcia was adjudged to have been pulled down by Ramos and the midfielder composed himself to fire low into Navas' left-hand corner.
Torres' disappointing evening ended early as he was replaced by Koke, while Ancelotti quickly summoned Ronaldo from the bench in the bid for an away goal, with Rodriguez making way.
Yet, the World Player of the Year made little impact on Atletico's well-marshaled defense and center-back Gimenez then proved to be a hero at the other end as he rose highest to power home Koke's corner 13 minutes from time.
The second leg will be played at Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium next week.
Elsewhere in Wednesday's cup action, Villarreal beat Real Sociedad for a second time in a month with a 1-0 victory.
Alvaro Negredo converted a penalty four minutes from time to give Valencia a 2-1 win at home over Espanyol after Christian Stuani had canceled out Jose Gaya's opener for the hosts.
Quique Sanchez Flores's first match as coach of Getafe ended in a 1-1 draw at Almeria. — Agencies
