Atletico smashes Lokomotiv to easily reach Europa League quarters

Bookmakers' favourite Atletico Madrid is the first team to secure a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals after Diego Simeone's charges ousted a plucky Lokomotiv Moscow side Thursday in the Russian capital.

Twice the winner of Europe's second-tier tournament in 2010-11 and 2012-13, Atletico advances 8-1 on aggregate after putting three past Lokomotiv in the first leg and another five on Thursday.

Angel Correa and Maciej Rybus exchanged goals in a four-minute window in a frenetic first half during which the host Lokomotiv tested the Atleti backline on numerous occasions. Rybus' strike was outstanding, but that was as close as the Russians would get.

The visitor's one-goal advantage was restored moments after the interval when Saul Niguez breezily struck Filipe Luis' incisive pass beyond a lunging Anton Kochenkov.

Fernando Torres made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Kochenkov brought down second-half substitute Antoine Griezmann in the area. Torres would complete his brace minutes later as the out-of-form striker scored just his seventh goal of the campaign in all competitions. Griezmann would get his goal five minutes from time when a looping effort from the French international found the back of Lokomotiv's net.

Atleti will now await Friday's draw to determine its quarter-final foe, with several outlets listing Los Colchoneros as 7/4 favourites to win the tournament.