News Archive

Copa del Rey, quarter finals, second leg

Defending champions Barcelona qualified for the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey for the seventh year in a row after a comfortable 5-2 win over Real Sociedad on Thursday evening. Luis Suárez played on Messi’s pass for Denis Suárez to open the scoring with just over a quarter of an hour gone, and Messi made it two from the penalty spot after Iñigo Martínez brought down Neymar some ten minutes in to the second half. Juanmi got one back soon afterwards, lobbing Cillesen after Iñigo put him through, but Luis Suárez restored the two goal cushion from Messi’s assist just a minute later. Ten minutes after that Willian José got between the central defenders to head in an Elustondo centre, but Arda Turan made it four from Aleix Vidal’s cross, and Denis Suárez wrapped things up after picking up a Messi pass to round Rulli and score his second of the night. (26.01.17)

Real Madrid are out of the cup, Zidane’s side falling a goal short of overturning the result after drawing 2-2 at Celta on Wednesday evening! With half time approaching the Galicians added to the 1-2 lead from the first leg, Danilo deflecting the rebound in to his own net after Kiko Casilla blocked a shot from Guidetti. Ronaldo (who had hit the woodwork twice earlier on) levelled the scores with a direct free kick on the hour mark, but with five minutes to go Daniel Wass latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the area to drill a low shot past Casilla, and although Lucas Vázquez headed a second for the visitors after Benzema headed on a Kroos corner, the goal came too late to save the day.

Atlético Madrid made it through comfortably against Eibar however, the outcome never really in doubt after a 3-0 victory in the Calderón stadium a week ago. Giménez ended any hopes the Basque side may have had though when he headed in Gaitán’s corner at the start of the second half. Substitutes Sergi Enrich and Pedro León did give the home fans something to cheer about, Enrich making it all square just a minute after they both came on after León’s shot came back off the post, and León himself volleying in a second from a Rubén Peña cross with ten minutes to go. However five minutes later Juanfran ran on to a long Gabi through ball to lob keeper Yoel and make it 2-2 on the night. (25.01.17)

Alavés are the first team in to the semi-finals of the Spanish cup despite being held to a 0-0 draw by second division Alcorcón in the Mendizorroza stadium on Tuesday, a 0-2 victory in the first leg enough to take them through. Alexis headed wide from an early corner, but after that the visitors had the better chances, Oscar Plano bringing a good save out of Ortolá, Elgezabal going close a couple of times and Nelson, Víctor Pérez and Alvaro all having shots blocked. The Vitoria based team held on though to see their way through to their third ever participation in the final four. (24.01.17)