In May 27th, 2001, a 17-year-old Fernando Torres made his debut for Atlético Madrid first team at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. Just over 22 years and four months later, that boy was now a World Cup winner, a Champions League winner and the man who scored the goals to kick-start the farewell party for the mystical hunk of concrete down by the River Manzanares.

Athletic Club may have pulled one back in the second half via Inaki Williams, but Torres' early brace and Angel Correa's late third ensured Los Colchoneros won their final game at the soon-to-be-razed stadium by a 3-1 scoreline.

Just eight minutes in, Fernando put the ball into the back of the net in front of the South Stand after a clever nod across goal from Antoine Griezmann, the current rockstar setting up the returned legend.

Athletic were not just here to make up the numbers, though, and they needed a result to ensure they'd have European football next season, so the Basques set about levelling the scores and pooping the party.

However, their surge up the pitch had the opposite effect and Los Colchoneros were able to counter attack, Torres passing to Griezmann, who in turn spread it to Koke, who headed back into the path of Torres for his second of the afternoon and tenth of the 2016/17 season.

With a two-goal cushion, Atletico sat even further back and ceded the ball to their final ever guests at the ground, with the makeshift defence - which had Thomas Partey at right-back and Saul Niguez at left-back - comfortably blocking the Bilbao side's several long-range shots and repelling cross after cross.

That kept the score at 2-0 by the time of the half-time break, although the visitors had their best chance just five minutes after the restart, only for Aymeric Laporte's header to whistle over the crossbar.
At the other end, Torres came so close to scoring a fairytale hat-trick, rounding the goalkeeper in the 57th minute and nudging the ball towards goal.

However, it was spinning oh so slowly over the line and Griezmann tried to shepherd it over before deciding it needed a final touch just to make sure, only he didn't realise he was offside, so his interference cancelled out Torres' would-be third.

El Nino was still the hero of the hour and just moments later he was substituted for Kevin Gameiro, receiving a wide ovation from the Vicente Calderón faithfull.

Yet there was still around half an hour of football to be played and half-time sub Williams pulled one back in the 71st minute, aided by a deflection from Stefan Savic.

Los Rojiblancos did manage to hold on and even extended their lead, with Angel Correa scoring a tap-in with his first touch after coming on for Tiago, who stepped off the pitch in tears on his final ever appearance in the red and white shirt.

It ensured the final Atletico match at this stadium was a victory, a fitting end to an iconic ground.


- Match stats:

Atlético de Madrid: Oblak, Thomas, Savic, Saúl, Lucas, Koke, Tiago (Correa, 88’), Gabi, Carrasco (Gaitán, 70’), Griezmann and Torres (Gameiro, 64’).

Athletic Club: Kepa, Balenziaga, Laporte, San José, De Marcos, Beñat (Rico, 74’), Iturraspe (Williams, 46’), Yeray, Raúl García (Susaeta, 57’), Munian and Aduriz.

Referee: Estrada Fernández. Booked the home players Thomas and Gabi.

Goals:

1-0 (08’) Torres scores from the box.
2-0 (11’) Torres scores with a scissor kick.
2-1 (71’) Williams scores.
3-1 (89’) Correa scores into an empty net.

- Match report by fernando9torres.com / Marca.com