Atletico savour 4-0 win over Zaragoza
MADRID: Atletico Madrid got their painful Barcelona defeat out of their system crushing European rivals Real Zaragoza 4-0 on Sunday.
A first league goal from Luis Garcia, signed from Liverpool in the summer, a brace from Argentine Maxi Rodriguez and a Diego Forlan strike clinched a comfortable win as Atletico moved up to sixth.
It was sweet revenge for Atletico as Zaragoza beat them home and away last season and ousted them for sixth place and the final UEFA Cup spot.
Before the match Atletico coach Javier Aguirre complained that his South American stars were shattered after travelling on international duty but there was no sign of jetlag as they set the early pace.
With just ten minutes gone Forlan picked out a precise pass for Garcia who made no mistake with a calm side-footed finish.
Forlan, bought as a replacement for Fernando Torres, then got on the scoresheet himself with a first-time lob on 34 minutes for his third goal of the season.
Rodriguez then stole the show scoring twice and was delighted with the result and the performance.
“We played well and two goals is obviously great for me,” said Rodriguez. “We are a good team and we showed that today.” Intertoto Cup winners Atletico are in UEFA Cup action on Thursday.
