Atletico Madrid picked up their first league win of the season and eased some of the pressure on Abel Resino after seeing off Real Zaragoza.

Jose Manuel Jurado put Atletico ahead after just two minutes and Antonio Lopez added a second midway through the second half as the Rojiblancos finally gave their supporters something to smile about after a dismal start to the campaign.

In the league Atletico had picked up just three points from a possible 15 while in the Champions League they had been held at home by minnows Apoel Nicosia and then lost to Porto in midweek, a combination of results that had seen the team incur the wrath of their supporters and also placed the spotlight firmly on coach Resino.

Atletico did not have it all their own way against promoted Zaragoza though, and they were indebted to a penalty save from teenage goalkeeper David De Gea in the opening period before having to see out a nervy final 19 minutes after Ewerthon pulled a goal back after the visitors had won another penalty.

Atletico took the lead with virtually the first attack of the match.

Diego Forlan's 25-yard shot was a poor one but a kind deflection saw the ball invitingly into Jurado's path and he curled his shot into the corner of the net from just inside the box to give Atletico the perfect start.

Zaragoza might have got themselves on level terms almost immediately though, when a deep cross into the area cleared full-back Antonio Lopez and found Javier Arizmendi.

However, the former Atletico striker, having taken the pass in his stride, then gave his old side a huge let-off after blazing over from close range.

The visitors missed an even better opportunity in the 19th minute though when they were awarded a penalty.

A slick pass saw Jorge Lopez get in behind the home defence and he was then brought down by De Gea as he rounded the home goalkeeper.

It looked a clear-cut penalty, but the 18-year-old custodian made amends as he superbly pushed away Marko Babic's spot-kick.

That was enough to keep Atletico ahead for the remainder of the half, and it might have been even better for the Rojiblancos if Forlan's 30-yard strike had gone inside the post instead of going inches wide.

Forlan looked on a one-man mission to extend Atletico's advantage after the break, twice going close before bringing a magnificent save out of Juan Pablo Carrizo from the edge of the box.

Carrizo can be proud of his performance during the match, but he could do nothing about the goal that put Atletico 2-0 up in the 66th minute.

Sergio Aguero was felled on the edge of the box and Antonio Lopez stepped up to smash his free-kick into the far corner of the net past the outstretched arm of Carrizo.

Atletico would have breathed a huge sigh of relief to have put some daylight between the two sides, but their two-goal advantage lasted just five minutes before Zaragoza pulled a goal back through substitute Ewerthon.

Tomas Ujfalusi looked to have won the ball as he challenge Arizmendi inside the area, but the referee pointed to the spot after the Zaragoza striker had tumbled to the ground and Ewerthon made no mistake from the spot.

Fortunately for Atletico that controversial decision was not to prove costly as Zaragoza could not find a second goal, although they came close in the 87th minute when Jorge Lopez's free-kick from the edge of the area produced another fine save by De Gea.

Atletico might have increased their lead in the closing stages through Maxi Rodriguez and Cleber Santana, but the Rojiblancos will not be overly bothered that neither went in as they celebrated a morale-boosting victory.