Atletico Madrid warmed up for their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash with Barcelona in the best way possible, crushing Real Betis at the Vicente Calderon.

Last time out, they went down against Sporting Gijon in a disappointing defeat, but this victory keeps them in the title race, cutting the distance behind Barcelona to six points before Saturday night's Clasico at Camp Nou.

They never looked like losing this despite having a depleted squad to pick from thanks to several injuries at the back.

Goals from Fernando Torres, Antoine Griezmann twice and Juanfran were enough to seal a 4-1 win, as Atletico manager Diego Simeone put out his strongest side, showing he still believes it's worth trying to catch up to Barcelona in the title race.

Winner: Fernando Torres

At the end of the season, Fernando Torres will be without a club, but he's doing his best to change that. The veteran Spain striker's loan to Atletico will end and so will his contract at AC Milan.

Provided Atletico can sign players while their FIFA transfer ban is being appealed, they would be Torres' best bet, because he is adored at the Vicente Calderon.

The issue is his form. For much of the season he has not been playing well, and it didn't seem worth Atletico's while to offer him a deal, bar for sentimentality.

But Torres' recent form has changed the situation. He has scored four goals in nine games, including his beautiful flicked finish over Antonio Adan against Real Betis, in the 37th minute.

He even helped create the second goal, zipping past a defender on the right before crossing, with the move eventually ending up with Antoine Griezmann lifting it home.

Torres later set up a clear one-on-one chance for Griezmann with a perfectly weighted through ball, but his strike partner fluffed the chance by taking a heavy touch.

Funnily enough, Torres may only have started this one because Luciano Vietto was taken down with gastroenteritis before the game.

Loser: Antonio Adan

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Antonio Adan has generally been a good custodian for Real Betis, but this was not his day.

He made a good save from Antoine Griezmann early on but was lucky to see Koke head the rebound onto the crossbar instead of under it.

Adan had little chance with the first goal, with Fernando Torres chipping him, but the second was a moment of pure humiliation for the goalkeeper.

Griezmann looked to loft a light pass in to Koke, who ran towards the six-yard box, but the French forward misjudged it. So did Adan, somehow letting the soft pass glide past him and into the net.

Later in the second half he overran a ball and took it out of the box, creating danger, but was saved by his defenders, who hacked it to safety.

Winner: Antoine Griezmann

This was not the Frenchman's finest game, but he scored two goals and set one up for Thomas Partey.

Griezmann's first goal was an accident, with his overhit pass fooling goalkeeper Antonio Adan and making its way into the net.

His second was relatively easy for him, too, after a great move by Angel Correa and an unselfish pass to set him up.

However, Griezmann paid it back by creating a goal for Partey, helping Atletico complete their 5-1 rout.

He now has 19 goals this season, and if Atletico can spring a surprise against Barcelona in the Champions League, it will likely come from his left boot.

Loser: Jan Oblak

By contrast to his opposite number, Slovenian stopper Jan Oblak was having an excellent day at the office.

Even without the two defensive shields who usually save him a world of hassle—Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin—the goalkeeper's net looked like it was going to go unbreached.

Playing behind novices Lucas Hernandez and Nacho Monsalve, the goalkeeper had to be alert throughout.

The highlight of his game came in the second half, when he made a sublime save from Heiko Westermann's header, palming it onto the post and out, before reacting incredibly quickly to smother the ball before a Betis forward tried to turn it home from close range.

This would have been his 20th clean sheet in La Liga this season, from 31 games, until he mishandled the ball late on, giving Ruben Castro the simple task of firing home to get Betis a consolation.

Oblak is one of the best goalkeepers in the league, but mistakes like this could be costly in other games.

Winner: Nacho Monsalve

It isn't easy coming into a side like this, replacing one of the key players. Especially when your partner, Lucas Hernandez, is still a youngster himself.

But that's what Nacho Monsalve, 21, did. And did well.

Both defenders were excellent, giving Betis very few opportunities to score, although on the rare occasion they did, they were safe in the knowledge that Jan Oblak was there to mop up behind them.

The performance of the duo will give Diego Simeone heart if he has to call on them on Tuesday night, when Atletico must travel to the Camp Nou for the Champions League first leg quarter final.

Ideally, the Rojiblancos will recover their star players before Tuesday and Barcelona, but at least Monsalve has been blooded.