TheNewsGuru

Tag: Copa del Rey

  • Real Madrid pound Minera 5-0 to reach Copa Del Rey last 16

    Real Madrid pound Minera 5-0 to reach Copa Del Rey last 16

    Real Madrid sailed through to the Copa del Rey last 16 with a comfortable 5-0 victory at fourth-tier minnows Deportivo Minera on Monday.

    Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler struck in the first half for the dominant Spanish champions.

    Veteran Luka Modric netted the fourth before Guler tapped in his second to round off the rout.

    Coach Carlo Ancelotti rested several key players ahead of the Spanish Super Cup starting in Saudi Arabia later this week, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior only appearing as second-half substitutes.

    Valverde volleyed home at the back post early on to help Madrid take control and Camavinga doubled the lead after 13 minutes with a header

    Endrick came close to adding a third for Los Blancos before Guler pounced with the aid of a deflection after cutting in from the right.

    Brahim Diaz hit the post early in the second half before 39-year-old midfielder Modric notched with a neat curling effort.

    Guler finished with ease at the death after Fran Garcia teed him up to cap a fine night for the Turkish playmaker.

    On Saturday Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also eased into the next round, while holders Athletic Bilbao scraped through on penalties against third-tier Logrones.

    The draw for the next round takes place on Wednesday, with the fixtures due to take place between January 14-16.

  • Real Madrid advance to Copa del Rey last 16

    Real Madrid advance to Copa del Rey last 16

    Arda Guler scored twice as Real Madrid cruised into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey by thrashing fourth-tier minnows Deportiva Minera 5-0.

    First-half goals from Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Guler put the much-changed LaLiga champions in control at Estadio Cartagonova.

    Captain Luka Modric added a fourth early in the second half before Guler claimed his second late on to seal an emphatic third-round success.

    Real return to action in just three days’ time when they take on Real Mallorca in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti made 10 changes to his starting XI following Friday’s dramatic 2-1 comeback win at Valencia which took his side back to the top of the LaLiga table.

    Midfielder Valverde was the only player retained, while there were senior debuts for unrelated defenders Lorenzo Aguado and Diego Aguado, with Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé among the substitutes.

    Uruguay international Valverde quickly made the most of his inclusion, opening the scoring in the fifth minute by emphatically volleying into the bottom left corner after Brahim Diaz’s centre was only partially cleared by Cristhian Britos.

    Cartagena-based Minera, who upset LaLiga side Alaves on penalties in the previous round, were three goals down inside half an hour.

    Camavinga headed in Fran Garcia’s cross from the left to double Real’s lead in the 13th minute, before Guler drilled home from just inside the 18-yard area with the aid of a deflection 15 minutes later.

    After Diaz hit a post eight minutes into the second period, veteran midfielder Modric stretched the visitors’ advantage further.

    The 39-year-old exchanged passes with Diaz before curling into the bottom right corner to claim his second goal of the season, having come off the bench to equalise against Valencia.

    High-profile pair Vinicius, who was sent off at the Mestalla three days ago, and Mbappe were introduced with 27 minutes remaining.

    But it was teenage Turkey international Guler who completed the scoring on an evening when Real registered 33 attempts at goal.

    The 19-year-old tapped home two minutes from time after Garcia cut the ball back from the left following a pass from Mbappé.

  • Copa Del Rey: Benzema hits hattrick as Real Madrid thrash Barcelona 4-0 to reach final

    Copa Del Rey: Benzema hits hattrick as Real Madrid thrash Barcelona 4-0 to reach final

    Karim Benzema hits second-half hattrick to propel Real Madrid to a 4-0 win in the semi-final of this season’s Copa del Rey.

    The result meant Real Madrid have secured a place in the final of the competition.

    After losing the first leg 1-0 at Camp Nou, Vini Junior scored first in the first half of the thrilling second leg encounter to put the scores at 1-1 aggregate scoreline.

    Benzema added two goals early in the second half – the second from the penalty spot – to put the visitors in control and completed his hat-trick to seal the win in the 80th minute.

    Carlo Ancelotti’s side will face Osasuna in the final on 6 May.

    Barcelona had the better of a feisty first half at the Nou Camp, but their best chance led directly to Madrid’s opener in first-half injury time.

    After keeper Thibaut Courtois got down smartly to stop Robert Lewandowski’s effort, the away side broke quickly and, after exchanging passes with Benzema, Vinicius squeezed his effort into the bottom corner.

    Five minutes after the break, Madrid were in front on aggregate as Luka Modric drove forward and rolled the ball into the path of Benzema, who swept the ball home from the edge of the area.

    Xavi’s side were reeling and when Franck Kessie needlessly brought Vinicius down in the box, Benzema sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way from the spot to extend the lead.

    The France striker got his third with 10 minutes remaining after a devastating Madrid counter, again led by Vinicius, with Barcelona having committed men forward searching for a way back into the tie.

    It was Benzema’s second hat-trick in successive games after achieving the feat last Sunday against Real Valladolid.

  • Copa del Rey: Benzema hat-trick against Barca fires Real Madrid into final

    Copa del Rey: Benzema hat-trick against Barca fires Real Madrid into final

    Real Madrid reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since 2014 on Wednesday night in Barcelona.

    A Karim Benzema hat-trick and a Vinicius Junior strike earned a 4-0 Clasico victory over FC Barcelona at Camp Nou and a 4-1 triumph on aggregate.

    Eder Militao’s own goal at the Bernabeu had Barca heading into Wednesday’s second leg with a 1-0 advantage.

    But Vinicius’ goal in first-half added time got Real Madrid back into the tie.

    Carlo Ancelotti’s men then took over after the break, Benzema putting them ahead with a sublime finish before coolly converting from the penalty kick spot after Vinicius was felled.

    The reigning Ballon d’Or winner clinched his hat-trick late on to dump the 31-time winners out and set Real Madrid up to meet Osasuna in the showpiece match on May 6.

    Barca started brightly with Sergi Roberto and Raphinha seeing early efforts foiled, though alert defending was needed by Ronald Araujo at the other end to deny Vinicius.

    Tempers were starting to fray in a typically high-charged encounter, Xavi booked for dissent before Gavi and Vinicius were cautioned for a fracas in midfield.

    The visitors remained focused, though, to level the tie just before half-time.

    After Courtois made a superb stop to deny Robert Lewandowski, Real Madrid flew up the other end.

    Even though Jules Kounde initially blocked Vinicius’ shot, it crept over the line to make it 1-1 on aggregate.

    Ancelotti’s side took the lead shortly after the break, Luka Modric teeing up Benzema to expertly stroke into the bottom-left corner.

    Real Madrid then landed a killer-blow shortly after, Franck Kessie bringing Vinicius down in the box for a penalty kick before Benzema stepped up and ruthlessly slotted into the bottom-right corner.

    Benzema sealed his hat-trick with 10 minutes to play, delicately dinking over Marc-Andre ter Stegen to send his team cruising into the final.

  • Militao own goal gives Barca advantage in Cup semi-final first leg

    Militao own goal gives Barca advantage in Cup semi-final first leg

    FC Barcelona take a slender advantage to Camp Nou after they beat Real Madrid 1-0 in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday.

    An Eder Militao own goal was all that separated the two Spanish giants, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men having a lot of the ball.

    But they were unable to craft much in the way of goalscoring chances.

    Militao’s own goal was only the fourth this century in a Clasico.

    Three of them have favoured Barca, after Ivan Helguera’s in May 2002 and Raphael Varane’s in February 2019.

    Real Madrid may consider themselves fortunate not to lose by more, however.

    Ansu Fati inadvertently denied teammate Franck Kessie a certain goal in a second half largely dominated by the hosts.

    Karim Benzema had the ball in the net early on when he chested down a cross from Vinicius Junior and volleyed home, only to be flagged offside.

    In spite of Real Madrid dominating early on, it was FC Barcelona who took the lead in the 26th minute.

    Ferran Torres played in Kessie, whose shot went in off Militao after Thibaut Courtois had initially saved from the Barca midfielder.

    Vinicius saw an effort blocked by Ronald Araujo early in the second half, while the visitors should have doubled their lead 18 minutes from time.

    Kessie met Torres’ cut-back but saw his goal-bound shot deflected wide by substitute Fati with Courtois stranded.

    Nevertheless, Xavi’s men held on in spite of Real Madrid’s desperate late onslaught.

  • Barcelona, Real Madrid to slug it out in Copa del Rey semi-finals

    Barcelona, Real Madrid to slug it out in Copa del Rey semi-finals

    The Spanish el-Classico will be re-incarnated in the cope Copa del Rey semi-finals showdown between Rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.

    The Copa del Rey semi-final draws was held on Monday, January 30th, 2023 and it pitched Real Madrid with Barcelona.

    The other semi-final game  will see Osasuna trade tackles with Athletic Bilbao

    The matches take place on four different dates in February, March and April with the Spanish FA having a schedule headache.

    Real Madrid are playing in the FIFA Club World Cup which begins on Wednesday and ends on Feb. 11, and then two legs of the Champions League last 16.

    Real Madrid and Barca meet in the first leg at Camp Nou on March 1 and will play the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu on April 4 or April 5.

    Osasuna will play Athletic Bilbao on Feb. 8 and March 1.

    The semi-final represents a chance for LaLiga and European champions Real Madrid to get revenge for their 3-1 loss two weeks ago in the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona.

    The match took place in Riyadh few weeks ago.

    Barca are currently the league leaders after they moved on to 47 points with their 1-0 win at Girona on Saturday.

  • Copa del Rey: Benzema to miss Real Madrid’s clash with Athletic Bilbao

    Copa del Rey: Benzema to miss Real Madrid’s clash with Athletic Bilbao

    Karim Benzema has been left out of Real Madrid’s squad for the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday due to a hamstring injury.

    The France international’s fitness has been a source of concern since he hobbled off in the second half of Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Elche in LaLiga on Jan. 23.

    During his pre-match news conference, Carlo Ancelotti was hopeful the striker would be fit for the trip to San Mames.

    He has been in sensational form this season with 24 goals in 28 games in all competitions.

    But Ancelotti insisted no risks would be taken.

    Benzema’s name was not in the 22-man squad for the match against Athletic Bilbao which was released later on Wednesday.

    This prompted concerns about his fitness for the UEFA Champions League last-16 meeting with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in less than two weeks.

    Mariano Diaz and Ferland Mendy also miss out through injury, while Marcelo is ineligible due to suspension.

    However, Marco Asensio could make his return from a hamstring injury sustained in the Supercopa de Espana success against FC Barcelona.

  • Xavi insists no Dembele regrets after Copa del Rey exit

    Xavi insists no Dembele regrets after Copa del Rey exit

    Barcelona coach Xavi insists there’s no regrets not selecting Ousmane Dembele for last night’s Copa del Rey defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

    Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany announced on Thursday that Dembele would be “sold before January 31” after refusing to sign a new agreement.

    And that decision also includes Dembele not being considered for selection.

    Xavi said after the defeat: “Dembélé is important but it is a decision of the club and we all agree.

    “I don’t think his absence affected the team.”

  • Real Madrid stunned in Copa by third-tier Alcoyano

    Real Madrid stunned in Copa by third-tier Alcoyano

    Real Madrid were handed a humiliating Copa del Rey last-32 defeat by third division outfit Alcoyano – who were down to 10 men.

    Zinedine Zidane’s side took the lead through defender Eder Militao but Jose Solbes took the tie to extra time.

    Alcoyano – who play in Segunda Division B – had Ramon Lopez sent off for a second booking but earned a famous win when Juanan stole in at the near post.

    “Crazy,” Juanan said. “If it was impossible with 11 – imagine with 10.”

    Zidane has won three Champions League titles as a manager but is under pressure, with his side four points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid – who have two games in hand.

    Real are 19-time winners of the Copa del Rey, but have not lifted it for seven years and have only won it twice since 1993.

    Incredibly, this is the fifth time a team from the third tier has eliminated them since 2001.

    Real were without captain Sergio Ramos – who is out of contract this summer and could leave the club after 16 years – as Zidane made nine changes from the team who lost to Athletic Bilbao in the Super Cup.

    But the team that finished against Alcoyano still contained Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, Marcelo, Casemiro and Toni Kroos.

  • Copa del Rey exit hurts – Sergio Ramos

    Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos says his side’s Copa del Rey exit hurt.

    Ramos said this after Zinedine Zidane’s men were knocked out of the competition following a 4-3 defeat to Real Sociedad on Thursday night.

    Real Sociedad defeated the Los Blancos and qualified for the semi-final, thanks to three goals from Martin Odegaard, Alexander Isak, Mikel Merino, and Andoni Gorosabel.

    Marcelo Vieira, Rodrygo and Nacho did score for Zidane’s side at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    “The defeat hurts, but it should teach us something,” Ramos wrote on Instagram after the match.

    “Los Blancos have further relevant purposes ahead.

    “And we are going to make sure we do our best.

    “I thank our supporters for pushing ahead and or trusting in us.”