Just like Sevilla before them, Atlético Madrid booked their ticket to the final of the Copa del Rey with a defeat. In truth the tie was over as a contest after 9 minutes, but Racing Santander had threatened to start a comeback to match all comebacks when they opened the scoring after 3 minutes, as Juan Valera turned the ball into his own net. Yet as soon as Jose Moratón returned the compliment six minutes later, Racing needed five goals to send themselves through. So inevitably heads dropped and the crowd lost all will to urge their team on.
As soon as Jurado knocked in a delightful second following a neat one-two with Sergio Agüero, it really was all over, although Atlético decided to treat us all to some more appauling defending as David De Gea and Tomas Ujfalusi both commited criminal errors during the last two minutes that allowed Xisco and Mohamed Tchite to give ten-man Racing (Christian received a straight red for a forearm in Ibrahims face) the consolation of at least winning the second leg. The long-suffering Atlético fans and players finally have their shot at a piece of silverware ten years after last appearing in a cup final, and after months of nothing but misery in La Liga. The fans will rightly lap up the occasion, but a final against Sevilla will be a tough ask unless they sort out these defensive lapses that seem to be occuring with alarming frequency. The final is scheduled to be held on 19th May in Barcelonas Camp Nou Stadium, for the first time in 40 years.