Atletico Madrid came from behind in order to claim four important away goals in a 4-1 victory over hosts Copenhagen in the first leg of their last-32 Europa League clash this evening.
Diego Simeone's men fell behind to a shock opener from Viktor Fischer, before Saul Niguez and Kevin Gameiro put the visitors into the driving seat heading into half time.
Los Rojiblancos capped off an impressive showing after the break, when Antoine Griezmann and Vitolo both notched to ensure that Atletico headed back to Spain with a place in the last 16 arguably all but secured.
Atletico started with great industry and might have gone ahead through two early chances, only to find themselves behind when Fischer reacted to Peter Ankersen's shot in order to turn the ball beyond Miguel Angel Moya with a deft flick.
The visitors seemed unmoved by the opener, though, as Simeone's men broke back within just six minutes, this time as Griezmann collected a short corner before crossing towards the near post, where Niguez leapt highest to head the ball past Robin Olsen.
Madrid took the lead in the 37th minute and again it was Griezmann pulling the strings for the visitors, this time as the Frenchman played in full-back Lucas, who was able to produce a cut-back for Gameiro and he opened up his body to slot his side in front.
Griezmann continued to shine in the first half and he might have been the orchestrator for a third having found Gameiro with a cute through-ball, only for the frontman to be thwarted by a returning Denis Vavro.
The Danish side had little to feed off after the break, although Fischer impressed once more, this time as he teed up Robert Skov to miscue an effort tamely into the arms of Moya from the edge of the box.
Having stood out all night, Griezmann returned to bag himself a goal and Atletico's third after collecting a through-ball from substitute Yannick Carrasco, before rounding stopper Olsen and threading his finish into an empty net.
The visitor's fourth arrived just six minutes later, Vitolo coming off the bench to profit from some slack defending from Ankersen with a clinical finish under the body of Olsen.
COPENHAGEN (4-4-2): Olsen; Ankersen, Vavro, Luftner, Boilesen; Kvist, Gregus, Skov (Bengtsson 73'), Falk (Santander 62'); Pieros, Fischer (Pavlovic 72')
ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Moya; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Lucas; Correa (Carrasco 59'), Thomas, Saul, Koke (Gabi 80'); Griezmann, Gameiro (Vitolo 69')
Christopher Dodd
