minute goal from Mesut Ozil wrapped up a 3-1 comeback win for Real Madrid at home to city rivals Atletico Madrid Thursday, giving it a healthy advantage in its King's Cup quarterfinal. Atletico took a seventh-minute lead through Diego Forlan only for Sergio Ramos to level with a header in the 14th as Real dominated in an electric atmosphere at the Bernabeu. Cristiano Ronaldo put the host ahead in the 61st and just when Atletico looked like it might have weathered the storm its defenders gifted Real a third in the 90th. Luis Felipe stuck out a leg to divert the ball to unsuspecting teammate Alvaro Dominguez who stumbled backwards allowing it to run between his legs, and Ozil stepped in to score past a motionless David de Gea. “At 2-1 it was a good result. 3-1 is tougher to come back from but not impossible,” Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores, who led it to the final last year, told reporters. “After the players' efforts, to give away such an absurd third goal is a double blow to morale.” Earlier, Almeria put its poor league form behind it to beat Deportivo Coruna 1-0 at home after Knut Rindaroy deflected a low cross into his own net after 34 minutes. Although the host dominated it failed to build on its lead and the visitors struck the post through Lassad in the second half. Wednesday, Barcelona thrashed second division Real Betis 5-0 at the Nou Camp and holder Sevilla came back to draw 3-3 at Villarreal. The second legs of all four matches are next week. Juve knocks out Catania In Milan, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had a solid game in his first appearance since the World Cup as his side eliminated Catania with a 2-0 home win in the Italian Cup last 16 Thursday. Juve, which had lost its last two league games, took the lead after 35 minutes when Serbia winger Milos Krasic scored following Alessandro del Piero's superb cross to the far post before Simone Pepe doubled the advantage after the break. Buffon seriously hurt his back during Italy's ill-fated campaign in South Africa in June and underwent surgery, allowing Marco Storari to take his place in the Juve goal. Storari has impressed so much that reports have suggested the Turin club could decide to cash in on injury-prone Buffon. Del Piero returned to the starting lineup and was soon the only striker after Luca Toni limped off. Toni joined fellow forwards Amauri, Fabio Quagliarella and Vincenzo Iaquinta on the injury list, further highlighting Juve's need for another frontman such as target Diego Forlan. Holder Inter Milan progressed to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 win over Genoa Wednesday while Palermo will meet Parma in the last eight after also going through. The remaining last 16 fixtures, including AS Roma vs. Lazio and AC Milan vs. Bari, take place next week.
