Atlético Madrid 4 - Deportivo 1

Atlético: Leo Franco; Perea, Heitinga, Ujfalusi, Pernía; Maxi, Paulo Assunçao (Banega 75'), Maniche (Raúl García 75'), Simao; Agüero (Sinama-Pongolle 83'), Diego Forlán. 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Manuel Pablo, Lopo, Piscu, Filipe Luis; Juan Rodríguez, Sergio; Lafita (Valerón 80'), Verdú (Pablo Alvarez 65'), Guardado; Riki (Bodipo 65'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Leo Franco, Diego Forlán for Coupet, Raúl García / Deportivo: Piscu for Ze Castro.

Goals:
1-0. 26. Heitinga. Chested ball over line from close up following Simao corner.
2-0. 52. Forlán. Intercepted Lopo pass and ran on to shoot past Aranzubia.
3-0. 67. Maxi. Drilled low shot past keeper after Agüero played ball in to his path.
4-0. 81. Forlán. Beat keeper with angled shot after Pernía and Simao combined.
4-1. 87. Filipe Luis. Turned ball past Leo Franco after Valerón squared across.

Yellow cards: Lopo 38'Juan Rodríguez 61'.

Atlético Madrid are back up to the UEFA Cup spots after a convincing 4-1 win over Deportivo. After much pressure from the press Aguirre returned to his twin strike force of Agüero and Forlán. But it was a defender who opened the scoring, Heitinga chesting Simao's corner over the line from close up midway through the first half. Aranzubia had to be at his best soon afterwards to turn a shot from Forlán on to the post, and although Lafita brought a good save out of Leo Franco at the other end (albeit ruled out for a borderline offside), another effort from Forlán was deflected on to the woodwork before half time.

Atlético went two up though seven minutes after the restart, Forlán intercepting a poor pass from Lopo and running on to shoot low past the keeper. And a quarter of an hour later Maxi got the best goal of the night, Agüero playing back his headed pass for the midfielder to drill a low shot inside the near post.

Bodipo could have got one back had Pernía not got to him in time, but soon afterwards Forlán picked up a cross from the ubiquitous left back to slot home his side's fourth. Deportivo's perseverance finally paid off when Filipe Luis latched on to Valerón's return pass to beat Leo Franco, but by then Atlético had packed up bags ready to go home. A good win, and Aguirre must be thankful that some of the pressure is off his shoulders.