Madrid: Fernando Torres hailed Atletico Madrid's tense 3-2 win on penalties over Bayer Leverkusen as the reason he returned to his boyhood club three months ago.


Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres (left) vies with Bayer's Roberto Hilbert on Tuesday. Pics/AFP

Torres scored Atletico's final spot-kick and then watched as Stefan Kiessling blazed over to seal Atletico's place in the last eight for the second consecutive season.

"I never had any doubt I made the right decision in coming here. This is something I'll never forget," said Torres, who came through the ranks to captain the club before leaving for Liverpool 2007.

"To play in the Champions League on nights like this is a gift." Mario Suarez scored the only goal of the night in normal time as Atletico cancelled out the Germans' 1-0 first leg advantage to send the tie the full distance.