Barcelona’s another blow comes within the frame of a Copa exit; Genuine Madrid energizes.
Barcelona’s list of disappointments this season became longer on Thursday; as they lost in the Copa del Rey round of 16 to Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona’s another blow comes within the frame of a Copa exit; Genuine Madrid energizes. Barcelona’s another blow comes within the frame of a Copa exit; Genuine Madrid energizes.
Barcelona was defeated 3-2 in extra time, adding to their previous disappointments in the Spanish Super Cup; and the Champions League. In the Spanish league, the Catalan team is 17 points behind Real Madrid; and the Europa League is the only championship it can realistically compete for in its first season; since Lionel Messi, the Argentina star, went to Paris Saint-Germain.
Madrid also required extra time at Elche, but were able to escape an upset courtesy to Eden; Hazard’s late strike after the club was reduced to ten men and had to come back from a 2-1 deficit.
In spite of equalizing twice in a rematch of final year’s last, protecting Copa victor Barcelona couldn’t get past Athletic; losing when Iker Munain struck a punishment kick late within the to begin with half of additional time.
Munain put Athletic ahead after two minutes at San Mames Stadium; but Ferran Torres equalized within the 20th miniature with his to begin with objective since joining Barcelona; a staggering twisting drive into the best corner.
Inigo Martinez scored from close range in the 86th minute to restore the hosts’ lead; but Pedri Gonzalez’s goal in stoppage time sent the game into extra time.
Barcelona, who was unable to maintain Messi due to financial difficulties failed to go past; the group round of the Champions League and fell to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup playoffs last week.
see also: Here is the World T20 Championship 2021-23 points table following the Ashes.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez stated, “We don’t have any other alternative than to remain believing in our project.”
Sergino Dest, an American defender who had been out since December 8 due to a back; injury and a positive COVID-19 test, came on in the 96th minute.
After overcoming Protector Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Mallorca, Cadiz, Rayo Vallecano; Valencia, Real Betis, and Real Sociedad are the five clubs left in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
The actual rally in Madrid
Madrid advanced to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals thanks to goals from Isco Alarcon and Risk; who have both played little this season.
“Isco and Danger enchant me,” Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, said. “They haven’t played a lot of minutes, but they are delivering now.”
Peril came on at the start of extra time and scored on a breakaway near the midfield; line inside the final minutes. He got a pass from David Alaba and sped past the goalie to score; his first objective for Honest to goodness Madrid since May. Danger initially thought he was offside and held up to celebrate, but after a video review, the objective was affirmed. Elche’s Gonzalo Verdu scored inside the first half of extra time with a shot from outside; the locale that occupied shield Dani Ceballos and stunned Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
The goal came after Marcelo was sent off for fouling a defender; from behind to thwart a counterattack with a free kick.
read more: Gianni Infantino meets with Chief Association players to examine the unused calendar.
Madrid retaliated when Isco, after being set up by Casemiro, diverted a shot by Ceballos inside the box.
Just before the final whistle, Elche thought it had equalized; but the goal was overturned due to a foul on a defender inside the box.
Madrid is looking to win the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2013-14. Last season, while still under coach Zinedine Zidane, it was defeated in the round of 16 by third-tier team Alcoyano.
For the first time since 2014-15, Elche was in the round of 16.
Madrid was coming off a win in the Saudi Arabian Super Cup; when it defeated Barcelona in the semifinals and Athletic in the final.
For Thursday’s game, Ancelotti left out three regular starters; goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, defender Eder Militao, and forward Karim Benzema, the team’s leading scorer this season. Gareth Bale made his comeback after a long injury break, but he sat on the bench.
MOVE UP GETAFE
Getafe won 4-2 at home against Granada, making it three wins in a row in the Spanish league.
The result dropped Real Madrid to 16th position, four points away from relegation. Granada, who had two draws in a row, has remained in 14th place.