Atletico Madrid 4 - 0 Racing Santander Aguero goal.

Atletico Madrid secured their first win of the Primera Liga season in spectacular style against Racing Santander on Sunday to ease the pressure on coach Javier Aguirre.

Raul Garcia, Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan and Simao scored the goals in a one-sided match which saw Racing finish with 10 men following the dismissal of Jordi Lopez.

Reports in Spain suggested Aguirre would be axed if Atletico failed to beat Racing and the Mexican coach appeared anxious as the two teams kicked off in the Vicente Calderon.

Nevertheless, his team started brightly and took a welcome lead through Garcia, a player Aguirre helped develop at previous club Osasuna, after just 12 minutes.

Aguero advanced down the left flank and crossed for the unmarked Forlan, who saw his shot blocked.

The rebound fell to Jose Antonio Reyes and the winger fed Garcia, who swept a precise left-footed shot past Tono to calm the nerves of his manager and ease the notable tension in the stadium.

Garcia got forward again on 19 minutes but saw his shot blocked on the edge of the area.

Nine minutes later, Atletico should have doubled their lead.

Reyes' defence-splitting pass found Forlan one-on-one with Tono, but the Uruguay striker hesitated and eventually lost the ball.

Reyes twice popped up again in the following minutes, but Tono comfortably saved the midfielder's long-range efforts.

Aguero then beat three players with a brilliant run on 39 minutes, but his one-two with Forlan was intercepted by the Racing defence.

The visitors were not in the game at this stage and continued to struggle after the break.

Reyes, heavily involved in much of Atletico's best work, found Garcia with a floated free-kick on 52 minutes, but nobody arrived at the far post to get on the end of the midfielder's flick-on.

Forlan then tried to set up Aguero on a quick breakaway attack, but Sergio Sanchez got back to clear.

Minutes later, Maniche sent a long-range effort just past the post as Atletico continued to pile forward.

The second goal was remaining elusive, but things would prove a lot easier after Racing substitute Jordi Lopez was dismissed on 64 minutes.

The midfielder had been on the pitch a matter of minutes but quickly earned two yellow cards for fouls on Garcia and Reyes.

His dismissal gave Atletico the momentum they needed and Aguirre's side went two up on 69 minutes when Aguero headed home Reyes' free-kick.

That goal gave the home side the confidence they have been lacking so far this season and a third soon followed.

This time Aguero turned provider, threading a neat ball through to Forlan, who fired a low shot past Tono.

And there was more to come.

Maniche hit the post on 79 minutes before Atletico made it four on 86 minutes.

Forlan found substitute Luis Garcia, who squared for Simao and the Portugal winger slid the ball through Tono's legs to complete a satisfying victory and provide some much-needed respite for Aguirre.