MATCH REVIEWS | Magical weekend of cup action for a place in the Last 16
We know now the 16 teams who will be in the draw for the Last 16
Unionistas de Salamanca were the last team to qualify for the last 16 of the Copa del Rey after beating Villarreal CF in a penalty shoot-out. The draw for the Last 16 was held at Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas and, as usual, could be followed across all the Royal Spanish Football Federation official channels and, in addition, on Movistar + and Teledeporte.
CD LUGO 1-3 ATLÉTICO DE MADRID
With a final score of 1-3, Atlético de Madrid managed to get over their first line in their cup run this season in Lugo; In a match that was really tight during the first 65 minutes and in which Simeone's team were only able to do the business in final stretch thanks to a double by Memphis (66' and 74'). Before that, Lugo showed a great version of themselves and were able to draw level following Correa's early goal (2'), thanks to Antonetti's goal in the 39th minute. The team now need to put their work in before going into the Spanish Super Cup.
RCD ESPANYOL DE BARCELONA 0-1 GETAFE CF
A genuine Copa del Rey clash with both sides fighting from start to finish and putting in top performances in search of qualification.
It was RCD Espanyol who had the upper hand during the match, although without the quality to make it count in the final third and trouble the solid Blue and White defence.
Just when the lack of goals looked to be sending the match through to extra time, a timely goal from Luis Milla put José Bordalás' side through to Monday’s draw. The team will now be eager to repeat their feats of years gone by by reaching the finals of the most prestigious tournament in Spanish football.
ELCHE CF 0-2 GIRONA FC
The surprise package of the season are on course for a historic year in the Copa del Rey too, having already sealed their place in the last 16.
First and foremost, Girona FC's win at the Martínez Valero stadium was due to their superior tactics, with Daley Bind putting the side ahead in the final moments of the first half.
Later on in the match, in the face of the pressure and chances from Elche CF, the performance of goalkeeper Juan Carlos kept the visitors in the lead. They then scored on the counter-attack in the final quarter of the game with a goal from Brazilian Yan Counto.
SD HUESCA 0-2 RAYO VALLECANO
A goal by Óscar Valentín in the 118th minute, when penalties seemed the inevitable outcome, gave Rayo Vallecano the victory in a tight cup duel against a great Huesca team, who defended well and even had some good chances to score a goal that could have turned the match round in favour of the Huesca side. It was a great team passing move from Rayo side that put the visitors in front, and they even had time to score the second and put the game to bed in the final seconds of the match thanks to a neat finish from Isi Palazón.
DEPORTIVO ALAVÉS 1-0 REAL BETIS BALOMPIÉ
A goal from Uruguayan Carlos Benavidez gave Alavés an important victory over Real Betis in the only duel of the day between two Primera División teams. Shortly after the start of the second half, in the 57th minute, the team from Vitoria took the lead on a scoreboard that refused to budge again for the rest of the match. Betis huffed and puffed until the very end, but Alavés shut up shop and even had the chance to increase their lead on the counter. Luis García Plaza's men have great cause to celebrate on Three Kings Day and will be in next Monday's draw.
ARANDINA CF 1-3 REAL MADRID CF
A cup party atmosphere to remember on the Castilian coast with 10,000 spectators packed into the stands of the Juan Carlos Higuero stadium for the visit of the reigning champions.
Segunda Federación side Arandina CF withstood the quality of the famous Madrid side throughout the first half before the physical toll finally tipped the scales in Ancelotti's side's favour.
First Joselu from the penalty spot and less than a minute later Brahim Díaz put the game beyond doubt in the first minutes of the second half.
The home side kept pushing throughout, even after Rodrygo's goal, only to find their reward in the closing stages with a consolation goal that was enough for them to be applauded off as heroes by their large home support.
SD AMOREBIETA 2-4 RC CELTA DE VIGO
Celta Vigo delivered the goods in Amorebieta to earn a place in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey through Douvikas, with two goals in the second half, and Miguel Gutiérrez, who scored the opener and shone throughout the match. The team in celeste took an early lead, but the home side bounced back and were 2-1 up before half-time, with two goals in five minutes just after the half hour mark. In the second half, Rafa Benítez's side turned the game around once again in torrential rain and sealed their place in the last 16 in a match full of drama and goals.
BURGOS CF 0-3 RCD MALLORCA
Javier Aguirre and his team have broken Burgos’ long unbeaten run at the El Plantío stadium this season.
With the enthusiastic support of their home fans, Burgos CF came out giving their all in an evenly matched tie, which was decided by the visitors’ ruthlessness in front of goal in the second half.
Uruguayan Gio González scored just after the hour mark to put his side ahead and then the floodgates opened with goals from Canada's Cyle Larin and the Balearic-born Abdón Prats, which put the Mallorcan side comfortably into the last 16.
RACING CLUB FERROL 1-2 SEVILLA FC
85 years after meeting each other in a final, Racing Club Ferrol and Sevilla FC went head-to-head again in the Copa del Rey, putting on a great show on the A Malata pitch.
In what was a tight game, set pieces played a key role in the outcome, as the visitors took the lead with a goal from Brazilian Marcao from a corner kick, in a goal that will have pleased the manager.
From the same position, on the same side of the same goal, the Galicians equalised with another corner which Fran Manzanara headed into the net.
And it wasn't until the final minutes that the game was decided, with a goal from homegrown player Juanlu Sánchez, who took advantage of some quality work by Suso on the left flank.
CD CASTELLON 0-1 CA OSASUNA
It took 107 minutes for the 'rojillos' to reach the last 16 of the Copa del Rey in Castalia. Arnaiz was the star performer for Osasuna against CD Castellón.
After a first half dominated by the Navarran side and a second half with chances for the home side, the game was not decided until the second half of extra time. Osasuna go through in the competition in a week when they also look forward to playing in the Spanish Super Cup.
SD EIBAR 0-3 ATHLETIC CLUB
The Lions settled the Basque derby in lightning fast fashion thanks to a great first half at Ipurúa.
Striker Asier Villalibre once again showed his love affair with the Copa del Rey, putting his side ahead early on.
Iker Muniain scored the second on the half-hour mark and Villalibre again added to the tally before the break.
The scoreline remained unchanged in the second half, ensuring Athletic's qualification for the last 16 in the season in which the Biscayan club celebrates its 120-year anniversary.
FC CARTAGENA 1-2 VALENCIA CF
A goal by Gayà in the second half of extra time decided a classic game of two halves, the first of which ended when Cartagena's Calero was sent off in first-half stoppage time with the Murcia side leading 1-0. From then on, the second division side - who had taken the lead in the fourth minute thanks to a goal from Ortuño - had no choice but to park the bus and try to shut up shop.
Valencia penned their opponents in and peppered their goal and finally managed to equalise thanks to Sergi Canós, but they had to wait until the 106th minute to complete the comeback and take the victory.
UD BARBASTRO 2-3 FC BARCELONA
A memorable night in the cup at the Municipal de Barbastro stadium in which FC Barcelona, the team with the most titles in the history of the competition, had to give it their all to come away with the victory against the local team.
The home-grown player Fermín López gave Xavi Hernández's team, who had come out with the kind of confidence and drive that the Copa del Rey calls for, the lead in the first half.
However, in the second half and after Raphinha's goal, the Aragonese side’s pressure and tactical changes brought them some joy in the form of their first goal from Adrià de Mesa, and then several other dangerous opportunities that threatened Iñaki Peña’s goal.
Barcelona resisted and in the final minutes of the match Robert Lewandowski settled any doubts with a penalty. However, there was still time for more goalmouth action and Marc Prat scored a second for a Barbastro side that fought hard to create chances until the very end and were then seen applauded off by their fans who paid tribute to their side’s endeavours from the stands.
MÁLAGA FC 0-1 REAL SOCIEDAD
The home side's own goal, after a good move by Igor Zubeldia just after the start of the second half meant Real Sociedad advance to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey at the expense of a remarkable Málaga side, who always gave their all and dominated the game for large periods in search of the equaliser until the very last moment.
The Donostia-San Sebastián side looked ever-dangerous on the counter-attack, but the scoreboard remained unchanged and Imanol Alguacil's team put on a tactical masterclass to keep the game tight and will be in the draw for the Last 16.
CD TENERIFE 2-0 UD LAS PALMAS
In the first twenty minutes of the match Tenerife put this cup clash beyond the reach of their Canarian rivals Las Palmas. Two goals from José Amo and Luismi Cruz put breathing space between the two teams and that gap proved insurmountable for the first division team, the only one in the top flight to have packed their bags today.
That two-goal deficit weighed heavily on the backs of the Las Palmas players, who put more heart and fight than quality football into their attempts to turn the match around. Tenerife managed the game well and held on for a 2-0 that puts them into the draw for the last 16.
UNIONISTAS DE SALAMANCA CF 1-1 VILLARREAL CF
A nailbiter of a match, which ended in a score draw with one goal a piece after late strikes from Ilias Akhomach and Alfred Planas in normal time (1-1), was unexpectedly postponed due to a problem with the lighting at the Reina Sofía stadium. The following day the players took to the pitch again to play out the remaining time, with 30 minutes of extra time producing no further goals the match and a place in the last 16 was decided from the penalty spot. After both teams missed one of their first five penalties, Kiko Femenía then missed the decisive last kick for Villareal, allowing Unionistas to keep on dreaming and sending their fans into dreamland. The Salamanca side, having only made one mistake from the spot, rightfully booked their passage onto the next round.
Here are the results:
|
Home team |
Away team |
Result |
Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
|
CD Lugo |
Club Atlético de Madrid |
1-3 |
|
|
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona |
Getafe CF |
0-1 |
|
|
Elche CF |
Girona CF |
0-2 |
|
|
SD Huesca |
Rayo Vallecano |
0-2 | |
|
Deportivo Alavés |
Real Betis Balompié |
1-0 |
|
|
Arandina |
Real Madrid CF |
1-3 | |
|
SD Amorebieta |
RC Celta de Vigo |
2-4 | |
|
Burgos CF |
RCD Mallorca |
0-3 | |
|
CD Castellón |
CA Osasuna |
0-1 | |
|
Racing Club Ferrol |
Sevilla FC |
1-2 | |
|
Unionistas Salamanca CF |
Villarreal CF |
1-1 (7-6) | |
|
SD Eibar |
Athletic Club |
0-3 |
|
|
FC Cartagena |
Valencia CF |
1-2 | |
|
Barbastro |
FC Barcelona |
2-3 | |
|
Málaga CF |
Real Sociedad de Fútbol |
0-1 | |
|
CD Tenerife |
UD Las Palmas |
2-0 |