Real Murcia 1 - Atlético Madrid 3

Real Murcia: Juanmi; Juanma, Cuadrado, Pedro Largo, Setvalls; Julio Alvarez (Diego Quintana 73'), Acciari, Roberto Fresnedoso (Richi 60'), Fredi (David Karanka 60'); Michel; Luis García. 4-4-1-1.
Atlético: Burgos; Gaspar, Lequi, Simeone, Sergi; Novo, De los Santos, Jorge (Movilla 68'), Musampa (Rodrigo 79'); Fernando Torres, Nikolaidis (Nano 88'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Murcia: Pedro Largo, Setvalls, Julio Alvarez, Roberto Fresnedoso, Fredi for Roteta, Carreras, Maciel, Jensen, David Karanka / Atlético: Gaspar, Jorge for Aguilera, Ibagaza.

Goals:
0-1. 13. Fernando Torres (penalty). After Torres brought down by Cuadrado.
0-2. 37. Nikolaidis. Got above defence to head Novo's cross into top corner.
1-2. 70. David Karanka. Tap in near to goal after Michel crossed in from left.
1-3. 83. Fernando Torres. Ball deflected into net off his knee from corner.

Atlético Madrid got their season back on track with a 1-3 win at Real Murcia, with Fernando Torres proving his goal drought has now ended after scoring twice. The young international striker started things off winning an early penalty after Cuadrado brought him down, and having missed his last two spot kicks he was relieved to see this one go in. And he thought he had scored again a few minutes later when he steered the ball towards goal, but referee Iturralde González ruled that Cuadrado had just managed to clear it as it was crossing the line. Eight minutes before half time there was no doubt though when Nikolaidis rose above the defence to head Novo's cross wide of Juanmi for his first goal for his new club.

As always appears to happen though, Atlético allowed their opponents back in the game. Roberto Fresnedoso could have scored from close up had he chosen to shoot rather than to head a low cross, and Luis García was unlucky to see the ball spin away from him in front of goal. Nikolaidis did hit the bar with a shot from the edge of the area at the other end, but soon afterwards David Karanka got on the end of a cross from Michel to pull one back. There were a few nervous moments before Atlético got their act together again, and shortly after Juanmi produced an off balance save from a Nikolaidis back-flick, Rodrigo's corner bounced through the defence and went in to the net off the knee of a surprised Fernando Torres. That ended Murcia's challenge, and Joaquín Peiró's side ended the day back in eighteenth place. With a bit more luck they should move higher up.