Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone denied that his team were now undisputed top-dogs in the Spanish capital, when speaking after Thursday's 2-2 Copa del Rey draw at Real Madrid saw his side progress 4-2 on aggregate to the quarter-finals.
Since losing with so much heartbreak to their richer neighbours in last season's Champions League final in Lisbon, Simeone's side have now this term come out on top in the Spanish Supercopa, in a La Liga meeting at the Bernabeu, and now in the Copa too.
Fernando Torres was the unlikely hero for Atletico, scoring early in both halves, and ruining a Bernabeu occasion which had begun with Cristiano Ronaldo showing off his recently won third Ballon d'Or trophy to the home fans.
Asked at his post-match news conference if he felt Atletico now had the psychological upper-hand in these derbi meetings, the Rojiblancos coach tried to play down the importance of the result, which sends his team through to a likely quarter-final meeting with Barcelona.
"No, as it was a last-16 game," Simeone said. "We give it the importance that it deserves. I do not think we have psychologically drained Madrid. They are a very powerful team. In no moment, no second, would I let myself think that. They have great players, and a really great coach. We go from game to game."
Simeone did admit, however, that he was very content with how the game had panned out, with his front two of Antoine Griezmann and Torres combining superbly to score very early in both halves.
"We are happy," he said. "We set out to play an intelligent game, to be able to take advantage of any chance with our two fast strikers. The two goals came in similar situations."
Madrid did dominate possession after first going behind, with a raucous Bernabeu growing in hope of a famous comeback after Sergio Ramos equalised on the night with 75 minutes remaining. Simeone admitted his side had suffered from there to halftime, but said they were mostly comfortable after the break, even after Ronaldo had headed in to make it 2-2.
"In the first half we suffered a bit more, but in the second half we played very well," he said. "We were playing against the team recently named world champions, and who won the Champions League. We defended a bit deep in the first half, but their only chances were from crosses, which we managed OK. We talked a bit at halftime and knew there were more spaces if we could get past their first pressure. We were able to calm down the game and hold onto the ball."
Simeone said he was particularly happy for his former teammate Torres, who scored his first Bernabeu goals in his seventh visit to the stadium.
"I knew him very well before," he said. "He was a kid then, so young with everything happening to him. He responded well, went away and today is a big name. I am very happy for him, and all the fans who greeted him the other day at his presentation. After a game like today's, to respond in the way he did, of course everyone is very happy."
The home support, which had enjoyed the presentation with Ronaldo pre-game, had supported the team well throughout, the Argentine said.
"It was tough here, with a lot of fans cheering them on," Simeone said. "The choreography was very nice, a goal so early it is normal, was not part of the plan."