Morata scores twice as Atletico outclass Real Madrid with 3-1 derby win

MADRID :Alvaro Morata scored a brace to help Atletico Madrid deliver a statement performance as they outclassed city rivals Real Madrid in a 3-1 derby win in LaLiga on Sunday.

Morata opened the scoring in the fourth minute in a sold-out Metropolitano stadium with a towering header from a Samuel Lino cross and Antoine Griezmann extended Atletico's lead with another header in the 18th minute, from a Saul Niguez cross.

Real's Toni Kroos struck home from the edge of the box in the 35th minute but Morata headed Atletico's third goal in the first minute of the second half, from another cross by Saul.

With one game in hand, Atletico moved up to fifth place in the LaLiga standings on 10 points, while Real Madrid, who entered the weekend as leaders, are now third on 15 points, one behind Barcelona and Girona.

Diego Simeone's Atletico dominated proceedings for most of the match and spent the final minutes of the game passing the ball sideways to each other as their delirious fans chanted "Ole, ole, ole" in a thunderous show of support.

After Morata had scored the opener, his team mate Jose Maria Gimenez wasted a golden opportunity in the 10th minute, missing a close-range header from a corner kick sent in by Griezmann, who himself headed in the second goal eight minutes later.

Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga had Real's first chance in the 30th minute, with a curling shot from range that was deflected to a corner.

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak denied a Federico Valverde first-touch strike from the corner and started off a quick counter-attack that almost ended with Atletico’s third, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga making a brilliant one-handed save of a Saul strike.

Real's Kroos then made it 2-1 before Camavinga had a goal ruled out just before the