It was about as far away from a game for the purists as you are likely to see, but Real Madrid battled their way past their capital counterparts in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.
On another day both teams could have only had a handful of players left on the pitch after Alvaro Arbeloa, Pepe, Diego Costa and Raul Garcia kicked, slapped or stamped off the ball.
Real took the lead midway through the first half when Pepe strode forward out of defence as his shot hit former Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua and bounced in.
They then made it two when Angel Di Maria found Jese in the box and the young Spaniard slotted the ball under Atletico keeper Thibaut Courtois, although the Chelsea loanee could have done better.
He didn't have much chance with the third, however, when a Di Maria shot deflected off Atletico defender Miranda and into the back of the net.
Elation: Real Madrid players celebrate after they take the lead
Flashy: Cristiano Ronaldo tries some step-overs during a fairly quiet match for the Ballon d'Or winner
Delight: Pepe celebrates after putting Real Madrid in front during the first half
Match facts
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao, Modric, Alonso, Di Maria, Jese, Benzema, Ronaldo
Subs: Diego Lopez, Varane, Marcelo, Carvajal, Morata, Isco, Illaramendi
Booked: Pepe
Goal: Insua (OG) 17, Jese 57, Di Maria 73
Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Insua, Raul Garcia, Koke, Gabi, Arda Turan, Diego Ribas, Costa
Subs: Aranzubia, Tiago, Adrian, Cristian Rodriguez, Alderweireld, Manquillo, Sosa
Booked: Diego Ribas, Diego Costa
Attendance:
Subs: Diego Lopez, Varane, Marcelo, Carvajal, Morata, Isco, Illaramendi
Booked: Pepe
Goal: Insua (OG) 17, Jese 57, Di Maria 73
Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Insua, Raul Garcia, Koke, Gabi, Arda Turan, Diego Ribas, Costa
Subs: Aranzubia, Tiago, Adrian, Cristian Rodriguez, Alderweireld, Manquillo, Sosa
Booked: Diego Ribas, Diego Costa
Attendance:
Shoving: The unnecessary argy-bargy scenes all through the match made it difficult to watch
Killing off the game: Thibaut Courtois is wrong-footed as Angel Di Mari's shot makes it 3-0
Pace and power: Ronaldo bursts clear away from Atletico midfielder Arda Turan
Upended: Diego Costa falls to the ground after a coming together with Alvaro Arbeloa
Stretching: Fabio Coentrao gets the the ball before Atletico defender Juanfran
Battle in the middle: Atletico midfielder Koke faces up to Luka Modric
Familiar face: Zinedine Zidane peers out of the dugout as he watches Real
Unhappy: Karim Benzema talks to Atletico keeper Thibaut Courtois after the pair collided
Fuming: Atletico boss Diego Simeone has words with the fourth official during the game
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