XtraTime Web Desk: Diego Costa single-handedly destroyed Real Madrid as he scored four goals before being sent off as their arch rivals were embarrassed 7-3 by rivals Atletico Madrid in the final match of their United States tour in New Jersey on Friday.
Real fielded a strong side once again, with new signings Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic starting up front and Gareth Bale again on the bench, but were 5-0 down at the end of a shambolic first half.
“We began the game very poorly,” Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said after the match. “It was a high-level match, we began poorly.
“They scored seven goals on us, that cannot happen. The players know this, they’re disappointed. But they can’t dwell on it either. It is a preseason match and we need to turn the page quickly.
“We played a friendly and they did not.”
Atletico fielded a host of new arrivals, including club record signing Joao Felix, who immediately caught Real cold on the counter before playing Costa in for his opening goal in the first minute.
The €120 million ($133 million) signing Felix got among the goals himself seven minutes later before Angel Correa, an early substitute for the injured Alvaro Morata, shocked Real with a third in the 19th minute.