Goals from Diego Costa and an extra time header from Miranda gave Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.
Jose Mourinho named Raul Albiol at centre-back in place of the injured Raphael Varane and the banished Pepe, whilst Luka Modric and Karim Benzema started in attack. For the Rojiblancos, they came into the game with virtually a fully-sit side, as the much-wanted Radamel Falcao was named as the lone front-man.
Having not lost to their city rivals since 1999, it was perhaps no surprise to see Los Blancos dominate the ball in the early exchanges. Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira were spraying passes from the base of the midfield, but Atleti remained tight and didn’t allowed their hosts a clear opportunity on goal.
That opening chance didn’t come until 14 minutes when a Mesut Ozil corner found Cristiano Ronaldo inside the area, and the Portuguese sensation rose highest to head home.
That goal forced Diego Simeone’s men to start coming out more, and they began to pepper Diego Lopez’s goal with a few shots. Gabi was the first to try his luck, but blazed over – and Arda Turan got in some good areas around the box, but failed to trouble the Madrid goalkeeper.
It looked as if the Santiago Bernabeu side would be going into the break 1-0 up, but with 10 minutes remaining Falcao laid in Diego Costa with a superb through-ball, and the Brazilian struck home a delightful one-on-one finish.
There was still time for Ozil to crack a shot against the post, but the teams went into the interval all square.
After the break, it was Los Merengues who were doing most of the pressing for an equaliser. For all their time on the ball though, they managed to create very little – in fact, the only real effort was an over-hit free kick from Ozil that almost caught Thibaut Courtois unawares at his far post.
Slowly however, the team in white began to really make the Atleti faithful sweat. Benzema almost scored with a toe-poke that hit the post, and from the follow-up, Ozil missed again as his shot was blocked on the line by Juanfran.
It was looking like lady luck was on the side of Atletico Madrid, because with 69 minutes gone, Mourinho’s side, once again, hit the post. This time it was Ronaldo who struck the upright following a close-range free kick, and by the skin of their teeth, Los Colcherones were still in the match.
The game was becoming more stretched and more heated, but neither side could be broken down, and it ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and went into extra-time.
The added half an hour began in an expectedly nervy manner, but the Rojiblancos almost carved out an opening inside the first five minutes. A great pass from Koke found Diego Costa, but unlike the first half, the striker couldn’t beat Diego Lopez with his shot.
It didn’t matter though, because with 99 minutes on the clock, Miranda headed home a Koke cross to give his side an unexpected lead.
Gonzalo Higuain forced a good save from Courtois, but it was Ozil who really tested the Belgian shot-stopper late on, as his close range shot was tipped over after a flying acrobatic dive.
Ronaldo was sent off with just a few minutes remaining after kicking out at Gabi, who also received his marching orders for a second yellow, and that ended a feisty, and historic Copa del Rey final.
Real Madrid 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Scorers: Ronaldo 14 (RM); Diego Costa 35 (AM), Miranda 98 (AM)
Real Madrid: Diego López; Essien, Ramos, Albiol Coentrao (Arbeloa 90); Khedira, Xabi Alonso; Ronaldo, Ozil, Modric (Di Maria 90); Benzema (Higuain 90)
Atletico Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Godín, Miranda, Filipe Luis; Gabi, Mario Suarez, Koke (Raul Garcia 112), Turan (Rodriguez 110); Diego Costa (Adrian 105), Falcao
Red card: Ronaldo 115 (RM); Gabi 120 (AM)
