PHOTO:Thomas Partey excels as Atletico Madrid reach Copa Del Rey quarter finals

Highly-rated Ghanaian youth midfielder Thomas Partey played full throttle for Spanish giants Atletico Madrid as they hammered their way to a 3-0 win over Rayo Vallecano to reach the quarter-finals of the Copa Del Rey on Thursday.

Partey, 22, was deployed in an offensive midfield position in a 4-3-3 armory by the Argentine manager Diego Simeone and he excelled as he lasted the entire duration of the game.

Frenchman Antoine Griezmann scored twice off the bench as Atleti joined Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla, Celta Vigo, Valencia, Las Palmas and second-division Mirandes.

Rayo held their more illustrious city neighbours to a 1-1 draw in last week's last 16, first leg at their Vallecas stadium and were sniffing a possible upset ahead of the return across town at Atletico's Calderon arena.

Angel Correa's powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area, which flew in off the underside of the crossbar, put the 2013 winners ahead five minutes before half time.

The former Tema Youth midfielder, who was rejected by Ghana U20 coach Sellas Tetteh for his 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup squad, is belting up more game time at the Spanish club.