As an Atletico Madrid player, who came through the ranks at their academy, Fernando Torres always dreamed of one thing: beating Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu.
No matter how hard he and his teammates tried though, they always failed. It took a move to Liverpool to finally tick that box. In the season of 2008/09, the Reds were drawn against Los Blancos in the Champions League last 16 and won both legs securing two clean sheets.
25 Feb, 2009: Yossi Benayoun's late header seals the away win for Liverpool at Santiago Bernabeu
"It is difficult sharing a city with one of the most successful clubs in history when you support the other club," Torres says in the book Ring of Fire. "When I beat Real Madrid with Liverpool, it was my first time, you know? With Atlético we could not beat them. Ever.
10 Mar, 2009: Fernando Torres scores against Los Blancos at Anfield and makes sure all Madrid fans remember his name well
"The satisfaction of going to the Santiago Bernabéu and winning as a Liverpool player was huge. Then the next week they came to Anfield and we beat them for a second time, 4–0. I could not help myself, celebrating a goal in front of their fans. It was special."
