Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will tussle once more in the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie on Thursday. Reuters

Before I go, here’s a recap of the action.


Real Madrid 2 -2 Atletico Madrid All Goals and... by ViralDailyTV

Atletico Madrid looked like they could be overwhelmed after Sergio Ramos cancelled out Fernando Torres’ early goal, but Real Madrid failed to convert their incessant pressure into a second goal before halftime. And Torres’ goal straight after the restart proved decisive. The wind went out of Real Madrid’s sails, despite Ronaldo’s headed equalizer on the night. It’s another superb victory for Atletico and Simeone over their illustrious neighbors. They will now almost certainly get a shot at revenge against a Barcelona team that dented their La Liga title defense with a 3-1 win at the weekend. On reflection, Real Madrid can take comfort in their schedule being eased as they look to win La Liga and Champions League crowns.

90 + 4 mins: And there goes the final whistle! Atletico win 4-2 on aggregate to continue to have the upper hand on their local rivals after beating them to the Spanish Super Cup earlier this season. Barcelona, 5-0 up on Elche from the first leg, surely await in the last eight of the Copa del Rey.

90 + 1 mins: Now into four minutes of injury time…

90 mins: Isco now with an unnecessary, late challenge to join in with the yellow cards.

89 mins: As in the first leg, Real Madrid have dominated possession, but over the two matches Atletico have defended stoically and been more decisive at the other end.

86 mins: Continuing theme, Dani Carvajal launches in on Atletico full-back Guilherme Siqueira to earn a booking.

84 mins: Despite both teams now appearing to accept that this one is over, there’s still room for a bit of tetchiness as Koke picks up a booking.

83 mins: The final few minutes all but academic now. Atletico are heading through to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals and the holders are heading out.

81 mins: Bale heads Marcelo’s cross high over the bar, before Atletico make their final change of the evening, as Hernandez’s compatriot Raul Jimenez replaces Raul Garcia.

78 mins: Again looks like, despite Real Madrid chasing goals, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez won’t get on. Here’s a piece on rumors of interest in the Mexican striker from Major League Soccer.

76 mins: Real Madrid now have four players string across their front line, with Bale on the left, Jese on the right and Benzema and Ronaldo through the middle. Benzema has just had a volley deflcted behind for a corner.

74 mins: Atletico respond to Madrid’s change by strengthening their midfield further. The excellent Griezmann is replaced by captain Gabi.

72 mins: Ancelotti has replaced James with young forward Jese Rodrioguez, who has recently returned from a lengthy injury absence.The 21-year-old scored regularly before his injury last season and Ancelotti dearly needs him to replicate that form now.

71 mins: It’ll be interesting to see if Simeone continues to use Oblak in the Copa del Rey, if, as now looks probable, they advance. The Slovenian goalkeeper has looked mighty shaky on crosses throughout.

68 mins: Benzema misses a chance. The French striker's attempted header from the corner is blocked and then he volleys over from close range.

67 mins: A good passing move from Real Madrid ends with Marcelo again having an effort on goal. This time the Brazilian’s shot goes wide of the target as he lost his balance.

65 mins: As I say that, Marcelo injects some pace back into the contest by cutting in from the left and hitting a right-foot shot that’s blocked before reaching goal.

64 mins: Despite Ronaldo’s goal, Atletico are far more comfortable than they were in the first half. The atmosphere at the Bernabeu has deflated and it will take something incredible now for Real Madrid to get the three goals they need.

63 mins: And here’s Ronaldo’s to make it 2-2 in the second leg, 4-2 to Atletico on aggregate.

Cristiano Ronaldo Goal - Real Madrid 2-2...by FootballFC

62 mins: Just to to get caught up, here’s another video of Torres’ second goal.

Fernando Torres goal: Real Madrid 1 - 2...by football24h

59 mins: Real Madrid quickly follow with their first substitution, although this one is enforced. Pepe can't continue after going down holding his midriff and the supremely talented Raphael Varane replaces him.

58 mins: The first substitution of the night sees Simeone shore up his midfield by replacing the hero, Torres, with Turkish schemer Arda Turan.

56 mins: Here's Ronaldo's goal. Bale did really well to get a cross back into the danger zone from the byline.

54 mins: Ronaldo scores! Now 2-2 in the second leg and 4-2 to Atletico on aggregate. Ronaldo with a nice header into the far corner after Gareth Bale supplies a cross from the left. Real Madrid need three goals once again.

53 mins: Fernando Torres will grab all the headlines, understandably, but both goals were all about the talents of France international Antoine Griezmann.

51 mins: Atletico so close to a third. Torres stumbles when he had the chance and Griezmann's follow-up shot is deflected just wide.

50 mins: Torres' second goal:

48 mins: The goal came from another error from Real Madrid, this time from Sergio Ramos, and Griezmann was again the creator. Torres turned well inside Pepe, but was fortunate to see his shot go under Navas. Incredibly, Real Madrid have dominated all but the first minute of each half, but they’re behind 2-1 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.

46 mins: Torres has done it again! The striker squeezes a shot past Keylor Navas even earlier than his goal in the first half. Surely all over now for Real Madrid. 4-1 on aggregate.

45 + 1 mins: And that's halftime! 1-1 on the night, 3-1 to Atletico Madrid on aggregate. It's been all Real Madrid after Torres' early opener, but Sergio Ramos' header is all Real Madrid have to show for it. It'd be foolish to rule out Carlo Ancelotti's side from getting the three goals they still need, but a second goal before halftime would have made their task look much more attainable at the interval.

44 mins: Marcelo drives in a shot that goes tamely into the hands of Oblak. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has had a wildly ambitous penalty appeal turned down. The ball hit Miranda's arm but it was glued to his side and he had no time to react.

42 mins: Atletico win a corner, giving them a much-needed chance to to recover from being penned back by Real Madrid.

41 mins: Real Madrid's defense is pushed so far forward that Atletico do have a chance on the break. No sign of Simeone's men exploting it lately, though.

37 mins: Just a constant onslaught of crosses into the Atletico box. Feels like the last five minutes, not the first half, of the match. Gareth Bale's header back across goal just misses Benzema.

36 mins: Here’s another video of Sergio Ramos’ goal to make the score 1-1 on the night and 3-1 to Atletico Madrid on aggregate.

Sergio Ramos Great Goal ~ Real Madrid 1-1...by rubin7190

33 mins: Atletico still desperately struggling to get any kind of possession. Constantly forced back by their opponents.

30 mins: Still far too much last-ditch defending from Diego Simeone’s point of view. Atletico clinging on right now.

28 mins: Jan Oblak, who did well in the first leg despite playing little since his summer move, is looking very vulnerable tonight. Real Madrid sensing his discomfort with crosses.

27 mins: Here’s a vine of Ramos’ headed goal.

23 mins: Ronaldo goes close, with Mario Suarez getting in a desperate block to deny the Ballon d’Or winner.

23 mins: The early goal appears to have made Atletico sit back on their lead far too much. Real Madrid completely dominating now and threatening a second.

22 mins: Sergio Ramos really is an incredible threat from set-pieces, but Atletico, uncharacteristically, made it all too easy on that occasion.

20 mins: Madrid draw level! Sergio Ramos, as he did in the Champions League final, heads home a set-piece, this time a freee-kick beautifully delivered by Toni Kroos that saw Oblak come and get nowhere near the ball. Just the three goals needed now...

18 mins: Real Madrid come close to getting level on the night, but Ronaldo unable to get a shot off in a goal-mouth scramble following a corner. Oblak eventually does well to claim.

17 mins: Atletico defending narrowly and giving up the flanks. Real Madrid have hit several crosses into the box, but none have yet paid off.

15 mins: While there’s an injury stoppage as Griezmann goes down, here’s a better look at the early Torres goal. Just 48 seconds on the clock.

Fernando Torres goal: Real Madrid 0 - 1...by football24h

12 mins: This game is perfectly set up for Atletico now. They know they can just sit back and frustrate Real Madrid, as they have done so often in recent times.

9 mins: Good cross from James Rodriguez but Karim Benzema’s far-post volley is blocked behind.

7 mins: Real Madrid solidly on the attack and Gareth Bale forces a save from Jan Oblak with a glancing header. But the task for the home side is now a huge one.

5 mins: Here's that Torres goal.

3 mins: Pepe was terribly at fault for the goal, allowing Griezmann to burst past him into the clear down the left before squaring for Torres to produce a simple finish and get his first goal since returning to his boyhood club. The away-goals rule means Real Madrid now need four goals to progress.

1 min: Fernando Torres has given Atletico the lead inside the first minute! Set up by Antoine Griezmann.

2.01 p.m. EST: Cristiano Ronaldo now having his photo taken with the Ballon d’Or trophy he won on Monday.

1,31 p.m. EST: No video, but Real Madrid did produce this snazzy little graphic.

1.30 p.m. EST: Here's the little video Atlético have comprised for their starting lineup

1.13 p.m. EST: Real Madrid, then, have gone for pretty much a full-strength lineup as they seek to overturn their 2-0 deficit. Atlético, meanwhile, have replaced one of their goal-scorers form the first leg, Jose Gimenez, with Miranda at the back. And Fernando Torres will make his second start for the club, with Mario Mandzukic, who has been battling illness the past few days, missing out. Captain Gabi will start on the bench.

1.08 p.m. EST: The starting lineups are in. First the home side:

G: Keylor Navas

D: Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo

M: James, Kroos, Isco

F: Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

And Atlético:

G: Oblak

D: Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Siqueira

M: Koke, Mario Suarez, Tiago, Koke

F: Griezmann, Torres

Preview: A meeting with old foes Barcelona almost certainly awaits Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, but only if they can overcome a 2-0 deficit against a team that has enjoyed the upper hand on them in recent times, Atlético Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s holders go into the second leg of their last-16 tie at the Bernabeu on the back of a third straight loss last week to their local rivals. The dominance that Madrid had over Atlético for so long, going 13 years without a defeat until the final of the Copa del Rey two years ago, has now evaporated thanks to Diego Simeone’s rebirth of the club.

Goals from Raúl García and José Giménez at the Vicente Calderón meant that Atlético’s intense, resilient style again came out on top against Ancelotti’s collection of stars. And Atlético, too, have reason to crave a meeting with Barcelona, who won their first leg 5-0 over Elche. Atlético suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Catalans on Sunday that has put a severe dent in their hopes of retaining the Primera Division title they stunningly claimed last season.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are still very much looking strong to win La Liga and the Champions League, and have already faced a heavy schedule due to their participation in the Club World Cup last month. There have been question marks over just how strong their desire is to overcome a two-goal deficit and face further fixtures this month and beyond. But a full house is expected at the Bernabeu on Thursday and nothing short of full commitment will be demanded against a team who have helped make this rivalry one of the fiercest in Europe of late. Fresh from his Ballon d’Or triumph, Cristiano Ronaldo is also likely to be in the starting lineup after starting the first leg on the bench.

You can follow the match live here, with live updates and video highlights of the action, starting with the lineups an hour before the match kicks off at 2 p.m. EST.

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