News Archive

Copa del Rey, fourth round, second leg

There will be four lower division sides in the last sixteen of the cup after Cádiz knocked out neighbours Betis on Thursday! With a 1-2 lead from the first leg, Quique Setién’s team appeared to have things under control. However the visitors scored four times before the break, and although Betis got back to within a goal, Kecojevic completed a 3-5 scoreline to take the second division team through. No other surprises though, Villarreal overturning a first leg defeat to beat Ponferradina 3-0, and Espanyol going through narrowly against Tenerife after a 3-2 victory (albeit thanks to a controversial penalty). Last season’s runners-up Alavés (currently managerless) won 3-0 against Getafe, and Valencia carried on their good league form with a 4-1 victory ahgainst Zaragoza. (30.11.17)

A humiliating night for the two big Basque sides Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao, both knocked out of the cup by regional league teams on Wednesday evening. Real Sociedad lost 2-3 to Lleida despite going two goals up, the Catalans coming back with three goals in the last half an hour. And Athletic were beaten 0-1 by Formentera, Alvaro Muñiz heading the only goal for the Balearic Islanders from an injury time corner. Barcelona, Sevilla and Atlético Madrid cruised through though with big wins against Real Murcia, Cartagena and Elche, and Las Palmas will also be in Tuesday’s fifth round draw after beating Deportivo 6-4 on aggregate. The Galicians were close to an epic turnaround though before Rémy made it 2-3 on the night, and local coach Pako Ayestarán was fired soon after the match ended just a couple of months after taking over. (29.11.17)

Second division B side Fuenlabrada gave European champions Real Madrid a scare in the Bernabeu stadium, and although they were knocked out in the end they came away with their heads held high after drawing 2-2 in the second leg. Luis Milla (son of the ex Madrid player) fired the visitors in front, but substitute Gareth Bale set up two goals for Borja Mayoral before Portilla levelled it for the Madrid based side on the night. One second division team is already in the next round though, Numancia knocking out Málaga after a 1-1 draw in the Rosaleda stadium. Adrían González gave his father’s team the lead, but Elgezabal made it all square after the restart. Leganés won 1-0 against Valladolid to add to their 1-2 victory from the first leg, and Celta and Levante are also through, the Galicians beating Eibar 1-0 with a last minute Iago Aspas penalty, and the Valencia based team knocking out Girona 3-1 on aggregate despite a 1-1 draw in the home leg. (28.11.17)