Atlético beats Levante 2-0 to return to Copa quarterfinals

MADRID: Atlético Madrid returned to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2018 by defeating second-division club Levante 2-0 on Wednesday. Marcos Llorente scored a goal and set up another by Álvaro Morata to send Atlético through to the last eight and help it rebound from two consecutive games without a win in the Spanish league. Both goals came after the interval after a poor first half by Diego Simeone’s team.

“We struggled early, didn’t even get a shot on goal. It wasn’t our best effort,” Simeone said. “We talked at halftime about playing with the ball.

We know these players can play well.” Atlético had last made it to the Copa quarterfinals in the 2017-18 season, when it lost to Sevilla. It was eliminated by Real Sociedad in the round of 16 last season, and by third-division club Cornellá in the second round two years ago. Atlético’s letdown in the league left Simeone’s team just holding on to fourth place in the final Champions League spot.

It has lost to Barcelona at home and drawn at Almería in the last two rounds. The Copa looks like the only trophy Atlético can realistically still fight for this season as it trails league leader Barcelona by 13 points near the halfway point. Levante had eliminated first-division Getafe in the previous round and was unbeaten in its last 17 matches in all competitions.

The other teams already in the last eight are Real Sociedad, Sevilla, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna. On Thursday, newly crowned Spanish Super Cup champion Barcelona visits third-division club Ceuta, while Real Madrid is at Villarreal.DEFENDING CHAMPION OUT Defending champion Real Betis failed to advance after a 4-2 loss in a penalty shootout against visiting Osasuna. Sergio Canales