January 06, (THEWILL) – Real Madrid avoided more Copa del Rey humiliation this season with a 3-1 victory in the round-of-32 clash against Alcoyano, with goals from substitutes Marco Asensio and Isco on Wednesday night.
When Madrid lost to the same third-tier opponents at Estadio El Collao a year ago, it was one of the greatest shocks in Spanish football history.
Eder Militao gave Madrid the lead late in the first half of Wednesday’s match, exactly as he did in the previous year’s match, only for Dani Vega to equalise for the hosts.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who were missing Karim Benzema, Thibaut Courtois, Luka Modric, and Vinicius Junior, retook the lead 14 minutes from time through Asensio’s deflected shot, before Isco’s prodded effort went in off goalkeeper Jose Juan to seal progression.
Alcoyano knocked out La Liga’s worst team, Levante, in the previous round and got off to a solid start against Madrid, with Dani Vega putting stand-in goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to the test early on.
After being brought to the ground by Militao, Eduardo Camavinga blocked a goal-bound shot, and the lively Vega had a penalty claim waved off.
The game quickly slowed down, and Madrid took the lead with their first shot on goal, Militao stepping in front of Jose Juan and heading on Rodrygo’s corner.
Madrid never seemed completely at ease, and Vega levelled the game after driving into the box, cutting inside past Casemiro, and curling a shot past Lunin.
The visitors, whose 15-match unbeaten run was stopped by Getafe last weekend, quickly woke and seized the lead when Asensio’s shot from outside the box, set up by Eden Hazard, took a huge deflection and caught Jose Juan off guard.
Two minutes later, fellow substitute Isco thought he had scored, but it was ruled an own goal because the last touch from his poked effort came off the experienced keeper.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
