Atletico thrash Real 4-0 in derby to open up La Liga race

Ronaldo's return failed to inspire Real who were light at the back

MADRID: Atletico Madrid tore apart city rivals Real 4-0 at home to open up the La Liga title race on Saturday in a triumph crowned by a spectacular overhead kick goal by Saul Niguez.

The champions are now four points off Real at the top and sit level with Barcelona, who visit Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, but coach Diego Simeone remains pragmatic about their chances of retaining the trophy.

"We still need to keep going match by match and see what happens," he told a news conference. "A coach can interpret the game in many different ways but it is the players that need to execute the ideas and they were brilliant. I have to thank the players for the way they played. They were solid and serious and we need to keep going this way."

Real, who were missing key players defensively, but had Cristiano Ronaldo back from suspension, began sluggishly with goalkeeper Iker Casillas at fault for allowing a Tiago Cardoso shot to slip under his right hand and in after 13 minutes.

The goal still did not wake up Real and they quickly conceded another through Saul, who netted in exquisite fashion having come on for the injured Koke. Guilherme Siqueira sped down the left wing before crossing, Saul met his cross with a bicycle kick and the ball flew in off the post.

Atletico continued to create chances and Antoine Griezmann went close several times before bundling in a Saul header from close range after 66 minutes with Raphael Varane slow to react. Mario Mandzukic further punished the Real defence with a header from a Fernando Torres cross late on.

Atletico have now beaten Real in the domestic Super Cup, twice in the league and knocked them out of the King's Cup since losing the Champions League final to their neighbours last season.

"First we have to say sorry to the fans. We were not good enough and we have to congratulate the opposition because they were better," Real full back Dani Carvajal told reporters. "Maybe the first 30 minutes were the worst we have played at Real Madrid as we were open at the back and we didn't create chances. "It is early to work out what to learn from this but it was a big blow for us."

Real had gone into the game without injured centre backs Pepe and Sergio Ramos, as well as left back Marcelo who was suspended, and they never looked comfortable defensively with a make-shift back line. Atletico exploited the Madrid defense and consistently surged forward and in particular the in-form Griezmann found plenty of space.

Ancelotti says Atletico defeat his worst at Real

Shell-shocked Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti described the 4-0 defeat at derby rivals Atletico on Saturday as his worst since he took over at the club and blamed himself for the capitulation.

"I need to have a cool head to analyse what happened. I accept responsibility, it was the worst game that we have played since I have been here," said Ancelotti, who took over at the Bernabeu in 2013.

"It is very simple, Atletico deserved to win because they were better than us in all areas. They fought more, they had more intensity and their play was better...everything. I am sorry. We are going to have to change our attitude and make sure it doesn't happen in another game. We made a lot of mistakes and we were always second to the ball."

Victory could have seen La Liga leaders Real open up a 10-point gap over their neighbours but instead the champions now lie four points behind on 50, level with second-placed Barcelona who visit Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

"We played badly but we are still top of the table and I don't want to make too much of a fuss about this game. It was very bad but I have belief in the players," Ancelotti added.

There was little creativity in midfield where Toni Kroos looked weary while Cristiano Ronaldo, who was expected to be fresh after missing the last two games through suspension, was largely anonymous in attack.

Fellow striker Karim Benzema denied the loss to bogey side Atletico, who have got the better of Real on each occasion since their Champions League final defeat, was due to a lack of motivation. "It was a disaster but it was not down to the fact that we weren't trying to win," he told reporters. "It was a very bad game. It is always difficult to play against them but now we need to work hard to win the next game.”