Diego Costa scores fives minutes into second debut for Atletico Madrid on his return to football
Spain striker came on as a substitute, wearing No18, in Copa del Rey clash away at third-tier Catalan outfit Lleida Esportiu
DIEGO COSTA marked his return to Atletico by scoring just five minutes after climbing off the bench.
But it almost threatened to ruin his second debut after he injured his knee over-stretching to bag the third goal.
The Spain striker, 29, last played over SEVEN months ago in Chelsea's FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.
And he wasn't going to be forced from the pitch after receiving treatment on the touchline while his team-mates went in search of a fourth.
Costa eventually limped back on and Atleti did net again through Antoine Griezmann.
He was back with a bang after coming on as a substitute for Angel Correa in the 65th minute, wearing No18, in the Rojiblancos' first leg of a Copa del Rey clash away at third-tier Catalan outfit Lleida Esportiu.
Costa got on the scoresheet in the 70th minute after Diego Godin and Fernando Torres both struck in the first half.
The Spaniard was mobbed by his team-mates after latching onto Juanfran's cross to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
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Costa's goal comes 99 days after Blues agreed to sell the sulking striker back to his former club for in a £67million deal, with Atletico shelling out £60m up front.
The deal, sealed on September 26, meant Blues made a £28m profit on a player they signed for £32m in 2014.
He scored 59 goals in 120 games appearances for the Blues and won the Premier League twice as well as the League Cup.
Antonio Conte told Costa by text message that he was not in his plans at the end of last season.
The hitman then spent much of August with his family in his native Brazil.
WORTH THE WEIGHT Diego Costa’s incredible transformation from Chelsea exile to the return of beast ready to star for Atletico Madrid
Blues and Atletico finally thrashed out a deal, but Costa could not play until January 1 of 2018 when the Spanish club's transfer ban ended.
He was officially unveiled on December 31 at the club he fired to a first league title in 18 years before he left.
Costa said: "I've waited a long time for this day, I've been working hard and training hard but there's nothing else to do, I need to play, I'm tired of training,
"I'm in much better shape than when I arrived, I've prepared well and worked hard and I'm ready to help the team and score goals."
He is now poised for en emotional homecoming at Atletico's new Wanda Metropolitano stadium for the visit of Malaga on Saturday at 12pm UK time.
