Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid: Derby Score, Grades, Reaction from La Liga

Atletico Madrid stunned rivals Real with a devastating 4-0 demolition at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Saturday.

Two goals in four first-half minutes soured Cristiano Ronaldo's return to action after a two-match suspension, as the defending champions moved level on points with second-placed Barcelona.

Tiago opened the scoring for Atletico in the 14th minute with the help of an Iker Casillas error, before substitute Saul Niguez produced a tremendous overhead kick to make it 2-0 in the 18th minute.

Atletico were comfortable throughout the 90 minutes, but Antoine Griezmann's close-range strike midway through the second half sealed the points for the home side.

Atleti substitute Fernando Torres provided the assist for Mario Mandzukic to head home a fourth goal in the 89th minute.

Diego Simeone opted for a front pairing of Antoine Griezmann and Mandzukic, with Torres starting on the bench. 

Ronaldo returned for Real Madrid after his two-game suspension, while the defensive pairing of Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez replaced the injured Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

There was an early call for a penalty, as Arda Turan went down under a challenge from Fabio Coentrao, but the referee dismissed those appeals.

But Atletico were dealt a blow in the ninth minute when Koke withdrew from the action due to a hamstring injury and was replaced by Saul Niguez.

That did not seem to deter the home side, though, and they took the lead in the 14th minute courtesy of an awful error by Casillas. Mandzukic controlled a Juanfran cross for Tiago to strike, and the ball went under the body of the Real Madrid goalkeeper to give Atletico the lead.

Real's woes did not end there, however, and Atletico doubled their lead with a superb goal. Guilherme Siqueira chased down the left and cut the ball back from the by-line. Substitute Saul weighed up the chance and produced a superb bicycle kick beyond Casillas.

Toni Kroos displayed Real's frustrations, as he brought down Griezmann in the 29th minute to earn a yellow card, but the visitors just weren't in the game.

Real Madrid were completely out of sorts in the first half-hour, with Atletico fully deserving their two-goal cushion at the Vicente Calderon.

It could have been even worse for Los Blancos when the referee failed to see a Sami Khedira handball from a Griezmann effort, while Mandzukic was adjudged harshly to have been offside when he clipped over Casillas.

Real finally made Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya work in the closing stages of the first period when he claimed a Dani Carvajal cross in the 40th minute, before Gabi was booked for a foul on Coentrao.

Carlo Ancelotti brought off the ineffective Khedira for Jese for the second half in a bid to get his Real team back into the match.

Arda Turan was shown a cheap yellow card in the 51st minute for dissent, before team-mate Diego Godin joined him in the referee's notebook.

On the hour mark, Casillas atoned for his earlier error when he thwarted Mandzukic's fierce drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Griezmann went close moments later, as he attempted his own overhead kick to mirror Saul's strike, but it flew over the crossbar.

But in the 67th minute, the France international effectively sealed the win for Atletico. Arda Turan found plenty of space on the right flank from where he crossed to the back post. Saul was waiting to nod the ball back into the danger zone and Griezmann rifled home from close range.

Ancelotti immediately brought on Asier Illarramendi for Isco, but Saul picked up an injury in the buildup to the third goal and was taken off to be replaced by Raul Garcia.

Karim Benzema had barely featured throughout the match, so it came as no surprise as he was withdrawn for Javier Hernandez, while Atletico brought on Torres to join the party in place of Griezmann.

Real substitute Jese was cautioned, as he allowed his temper to boil over and threw Miranda to the floor after the Atleti defender shielded the ball for a goal-kick.

Torres had been the scourge of Real in the Copa del Rey win, and the Atletico substitute provided the assist in the 89th minute when his cross found Mandzukic in the area to bullet home a fourth goal.

Selected Player Ratings

Cristiano Ronaldo: B

His return from suspension barely registered in the first half as Atletico Madrid dominated.

Fabio Coentrao: B-

Struggled to get to grips with the game in first 45 minutes as Arda Turan ran riot.

Tiago: A+

Superb first-half display, capped by his early opening goal with the help of Casillas.

What's Ahead

Atletico will now have an eight-day break from competition as they prepare for the Liga game at Celta Vigo next Sunday.

Real Madrid will be at home to Deportivo La Coruna next Saturday in league action.

Post-Match Reaction

"

Ancelotti: “We must weigh up in coming days why this happened, with calm, with cool heads, and try & change things for future.”

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) February 7, 2015"