Key Takeaways:
- Atletico Madrid progressed to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals after a 1-0 victory away at Deportivo La Coruña last night
- Antoine Griezmann provided the winning goal in the 61st minute with a direct free kick
- Deportivo La Coruña failed to end their winless run, despite fielding their strongest line-up
Match Analysis: Atletico Edge Past a Stubborn Deportivo
Atletico Madrid became the first club to secure a place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruña at Riazor. Antoine Griezmann produced the decisive moment with a superb free kick in the 61st minute, breaking the deadlock after a tense battle between the two sides.
The Colchoneros were made to work for their victory, as Deportivo proved resilient, particularly in the closing stages. While the hosts rarely threatened going forward, they increased the pressure in the final moments, occupying Atletico’s half and searching for an equaliser up until the final whistle.
Poetry in motion 👑 pic.twitter.com/Afmrdo3I60
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 13, 2026
Line-Ups and Tactical Changes
This fixture marked Atletico’s first outing since returning from Saudi Arabia, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals. Diego Simeone opted to refresh his line-up, handing starting opportunities to Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, Johnny Cardoso, and Antoine Griezmann.
Deportivo La Coruña arrived at this cup tie on the back of five consecutive games without a win in La Liga 2, a series that saw the team drop to 5th place in the standings. Despite the club’s primary objective being promotion back to the top flight, manager Antonio Hidalgo selected his strongest available eleven in a bid to test their La Liga opponents.
Key Moments and Match Flow
Atletico created the earliest chances, with opportunities for Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone going to waste. Left back Matteo Ruggeri came closest in the opening stages, rattling the post after a quarter-hour had been played.
Germán Parreño, the home side’s goalkeeper, was kept busy throughout the first half. He stopped a dangerous effort from an energetic Alex Baena and, in the 32nd minute, Atletico’s Juan Musso was called on to deny Zakaria Eddahchouri’s headed attempt to keep the score level. The visitors then applied sustained pressure, but Parreño stood firm to keep out strikes from Julian Alvarez and Griezmann, the latter clipping the crossbar just before the interval.
As play resumed, Atletico stepped up their attacking intent. Following a number of unsuccessful advances, Diego Simeone made a triple substitution in the 58th minute, introducing Thiago Almada, Alexander Sørloth, and Pablo Barrios. Just three minutes later, Griezmann bent a precise free kick beyond Parreño, giving Atletico the lead in the 61st minute.
After going ahead, Atletico retreated into a defensive shape and allowed Deportivo to press forward. In the 63rd minute, Lucas Nuоbi forced a save from Musso, but genuine opportunities remained scarce for the hosts. Atletico mounted several counterattacks later on, yet were unable to add to their advantage.
Statistical Summary
| Statistic | Deportivo La Coruña | Atletico Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 0 | 1 |
| Goal Scorers | – | Antoine Griezmann (61’) |
Looking Ahead
Atletico Madrid’s next outing will be a home match against Alavés in La Liga. Deportivo La Coruña, meanwhile, are set to travel to Almería for their subsequent league fixture, continuing their quest for promotion.
