Suarez ends goal drought as Atletico cruise into Last 16

Luis Suarez scored his first goal in two months on Thursday as Atletico Madrid stormed into the Last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 win over Rayo Majadahonda. Suarez had gone 10 games without a goal for club and country, a drought that stretched back to Atletico’s draw with Valencia on November 7.

But the Uruguayan was on target again at the Wanda Metropolitano to put Atletico three ahead before the break, with Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix making it five in the second half. Rayo Majadahonda are sixth in Segunda B, Spain’s third tier, and play their home games at Atletico’s training ground, El Cerro del Espino.

But the club asked to switch the match to the 68,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano instead, a request that was approved by the Spanish federation. Atletico took the lead in the 17th minute when a rushed clearance by Jorge Casado cannoned kindly into the path of Matheus Cunha, who finished on the slide. Renan Lodi’s excellent shot made it two and then Suarez finished off from Marcos Llorente’s cut-back after a neat ball in behind by Yannick Carrasco.