Diego Forlan scored two penalties as Atletico Madrid claimed a 4-0 win in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Racing Santander.
The comfortable win at the Vicente Calderon came courtesy of goals from Simao, Jose Antonio Reyes and two Diego Forlan penalties.
Another terrible league display in Sunday's 2-0 home defeat to Malaga had piled pressure on manager Quique Sanchez Flores, but the Madrid native will hope cup form has earned a little breathing space.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo had offered Sanchez Flores, who was only appointed last October, his backing prior to kick-off and believed the manager would be in charge for the cup final 'if we get there'.
It would appear that such caution is now unnecessary as 13th-placed Atletico cruised to victory over a side who sit only one place and one point above them in the league.
It took just nine minutes for Simao to fire Atletico in front with a first-time strike into the roof of the net.
Jose Antonio Reyes then doubled the lead five minutes before the interval, tapping home from close range after the Racing defence had failed to clear the ball.
Forlan scored the first of his penalties after 62 minutes, although replays suggested Toni Moral's challenge on Jose Manuel Jurado took place outside of the area.
But there was no doubt over the second spot-kick eight minutes later, with Forlan again providing the finish after Sergio Aguero was sent to ground by Marc Torrejon.
Aguero should have added a fifth three minutes into stoppage time but he somehow turned Tomas Ujfalusi's inviting cross past the left post from a few yards out.
Sevilla hold a 2-0 first-leg advantage over Getafe in the other semi-final.
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