Atletico Madrid 4-0 Racing Santander

Posted Friday, February 05, 2010 by Goal.com

Atletico Madrid comfortably saw off Racing Santander in a tense first leg of this crucial Copa del Rey semi-final for both sides.

Atletico's Diego Forlan celebrates his second goal against Racing Santander with his team

Atletico Madrid were looking to put a disappointing La Liga result behind them while Racing wanted to capitalise on some good form and use the competition to compensate for their own mid-table mediocrity.

Atletico dominated the first half and probably should have been more than two goals up when the teams went in at the break. However, they made up for this in the second half and created a deficit, which will be very difficult for Racing to claw back.

Atletico got stuck in from the off with Kun Ageuro running around like a maniac and causing problems. As early as the third minute he made a blinding run to the edge of the Racing area but went down too easily as the referee waved away cries for a foul.

Aguero was in the spotlight again just a few minutes later when he had the first real chance of the match. He curled a shot inches wide of the far post after a good lay-off from Jose Reyes playing out on the left wing.

Atletico maintained their authority in the early stages and took the lead through a superb Simao strike in the tenth minute. Aguero was again in the play and sent over a superb cross, which Simao ran in to meet full on and smash into the top corner of the Racing goal.

It seemed that there was only one team in the game and Aguero should have made the score 2-0 on the quarter of an hour mark, when he ghosted in behind the Racing defence and sent a header wide. Racing were hanging on and trying to get anything on the ball to keep it out.

Racing slowly got into the game after a hectic first 20 minutes. Atletico were still building dangerous attacks but the longer the match went, the greater chance Racing would have of building their own pressure.

Racing had their first real chance in the 22nd minute when Xisco did well to hold off pressure and lay a ball for Serrano. However, Serrano’s shot was weak and never looked like threatening the Atletico goal.

Xisco himself then missed a glorious chance to level just before the 30-minute mark mark. Munitis picked the attacking player out with a precise cross but Xisco headed the ball well over when it seemed easier to just nod it into the net.

However, the home side never lost their attacking creativity and remained a constant threat. With the break approaching, Aguero set up Diego Forlan who curled a ball, which was destined for the bottom corner. Out came the hand of Coltorti as the ball was diverted out for a corner.

Atletico got the second goal they deserved, which would have forced the Racing coach to change his half-time team talk. Jose Antonio Reyes found himself unmarked at the far post and promptly slammed the ball into the goal, after a number of Racing defenders failed to clear Simao’s cross.

The second half started in much the same way as the first. Atletico had the first chance when Tiago dinked the ball over the head of Colsa with brilliant skill, but he could not get a strong shot away on target.

Racing still looked frustrated and made a double substitution in the 55th minute. Tchite and Toni Moral came on, injecting fresh energy into the side and more creativity was needed if they wanted that vital away goal.

Atletico were waiting like sharks to pounce and score a third goal for every bit of pressure that Racing would have to build. Simao rattled the ball off of the frame of the goal on the hour mark with a curling free kick from the edge of the area.

The home team then had their three goal lead just three minutes later when Forlan scored from 12 yards. The foul on Jurado looked as though it was a good distance outside the area but Forlan stepped up to roll the ball in. Racing were furious.

Atletico then took a slightly more relaxed approach to proceedings. Racing heads had dropped but just a single goal would give them some hope going into the second leg of the tie next week.

However, this looked even less likely when Forlan stepped up to convert his second penalty of the evening with little more than 15 minutes left in the game. Torrejon axed down Aguero who made a brilliant run and the referee got this decision correct. Forlan smashed the ball down the middle and virtually ended the game.

To their credit the away team kept fighting, but they were clinging onto the smallest glimmer of hope. Toni Moral should have done better with a late chance but he sent a header straight at De Gea who had no problems saving.

Jurado probably should have put the entire tie out of Racing’s reach inside the 86th minute when he scuffed a volley. The ball fell into his path, he used good control but missed the target when the tie was there for the taking.