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Real Madrid logo
Copa del Rey | Quarter-Finals
Jan 24, 2018 at 8.30pm UK
 
Leganes logo

1-2

Benzema (47')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Eraso (31'), Gabriel (55')

Live Commentary: Real Madrid 1-2 Leganes - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final between Real Madrid and Leganes at the Bernabeu, which ended 1-2.
2

Leganes booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a spectacular 2-1 win at Real Madrid in the second leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday night.

Los Blancos entered the match holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg of their last-eight tie, but it was the visitors that progressed on another hugely disappointing night for the Spanish champions.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.


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Evening all! Sports Mole's live Copa del Rey coverage continues from the Bernabeu as Real Madrid welcome Leganes for the second leg of their quarter-final. The Spanish champions lead 1-0 from the first leg last week – can they complete the job tonight? Stay tuned to find out!

As mentioned, Real Madrid recorded a 1-0 win when they travelled to Leganes for the first leg last week. It was a tight match for long spells, but Marco Asensio struck in the 89th minute to secure an advantage for Los Blancos. It is a massive task for Leganes to turn this one around, especially considering that they suffered a 3-0 defeat in their last visit to the Bernabeu in November 2016.

Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news for this match. Both teams were in La Liga action at the weekend – Real Madrid thumping Deportivo La Coruna 7-1 while Leganes drew 2-2 at Alaves. Let's run through the two XIs for this match...

TEAMS!

REAL: Casilla; Achraf, Ramos, Nacho, Theo; Kovacic, Llorente, Isco; Lucas, Benzema, Asensio

LEGANES: Champagne; Tito, Bustinza, Siovas, Rico; Gabriel, Brasanac; El Zhar, Eraso, Amrabat; Beauvue

Karim Benzema in action for Real Madrid in October 2017© Offside


Skipper Sergio Ramos is back for Real Madrid after recovering from injury, while Karim Benzema starts his first match since before Christmas. Isco, Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio and Marcos Llorente are also handed spots in the XI as the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos are given the night off. It is a very strong Real Madrid team despite the obvious absentees.

As for Leganes, Nabil El Zhar once again supports on-loan Celta Vigo forward Claudio Beauvue in the final third of the field, but there are changes from the team's 2-2 draw with Alaves in La Liga at the weekend, with Nordin Amrabat - formerly of Watford - among those to come in. Diego Rico, Darko Brasanac and Nereo Champagne also feature, as does Brazilian Gabriel in the middle of the park.

So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in the Spanish capital. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's first discuss Real Madrid. Zinedine Zidane's team returned to winning ways in specular fashion on Sunday afternoon as they recorded a 7-1 victory over Deportivo at the Bernabeu.

This man does not play tonight. That was quite a cut he suffered against Deportivo!


Ronaldo, Bale and Nacho all grabbed braces for Real Madrid, who also had Luka Modric on the scoresheet. It was the perfect away to bounce back from successive home league losses, but the fact of the matter is that Zidane's side are still 19 points off league leaders Barcelona. They are also eight points off second-placed capital rivals Atletico Madrid at this stage of the campaign.

Sunday was the first occasion that Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema had all been on the pitch at the same time this season, however, and that will make a big difference. The BBC do not feature tonight, but all three should start when Real Madrid travel to third-placed Valencia in the league this weekend.

Real Madrid have had to watch Barcelona dominate the Copa del Rey in recent seasons, and Los Blancos have not actually won this competition since 2014. They overcome Numancia to set up this tie with Leganes, and will fancy their chances of marching into the semi-finals tonight.


The Champions League also resumes next month, and Real Madrid have the small matter of a last-16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain. It will be fascinating to see what occurs when those two heavyweights lock horns, and Los Blancos cannot be ruled out in Europe despite their inconsistent form this season.

Leganes, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Alaves at the weekend. The Madrid club only just survived in La Liga last season as they finished 17th, but they are currently 13th in the top flight, and have impressed many despite their inconsistent form in recent weeks.

In truth, the Copa del Rey is not high on the club's list of priorities at the moment. They have beaten Real Valladolid and Villarreal to reach the quarter-finals of this year's competition, but their journey will end tonight unless they can record a shock result against the champions of Spain.


Leganes have only scored 17 times in their 19 league matches this season, but they have only conceded 19, which is an indication of how they have performed. Asier Garitano's side deserve credit for an impressive display against Real Madrid in the first leg last week, and tonight will not be a walk in the park for the home side. Little under 10 minutes until kickoff at the Bernabeu.

PREDICTION! I am finding it very difficult to make a case for Leganes tonight. Real Madrid have a 1-0 lead from the first leg last week, and should complete the job in fairly routine fashion here to make the semi-finals. Let's say 2-0 on the night with Benzema and Lucas on the scoresheet.

KICKOFF! Real Madrid kick things off on home soil...

... not a full house inside the Bernabeu tonight, but there is a good atmosphere, and the home supporters will be hoping for a strong performance. Let's hope for an entertaining contest here.

Achraf has been allowed to break down the right on a couple of occasions for Real Madrid in the first four minutes, but the defender has been unable to pick out a teammate. Leganes are attempting to play football inside their own half, but the home side are pressing very high up the field.

Good couple of minutes for the away side as they threaten with a couple of crosses into the Real Madrid box. Kovacic then breaks Amrabat to the ground just outside the penalty box...

... POST! Beauvue hits the post with the resulting free kick!

Plenty happening in the early minutes of this match as both teams commit players in the final third of the field. Leganes look prepared to commit four, five players to each break forward here.

Leganes continue to impress as they battle away in the middle of the park, and the second balls are falling for the away side at the moment. Beauvue is very busy in the final third of the field.

Beauvue beats the offside trap as he collects a pass from Eraso, but the striker cannot take the ball in his path, and Ramos is across to make the clearance. Leganes are on top as it stands here.

Real Madrid break through Hernandez, who eventually finds Isco. Isco delivers across the field into Achraf, but the right-back cannot pick out a teammate inside the box. Leganes then clear the resulting corner - committing players on the break once again. Good stuff from the visitors.

Branasac sees his long-range attempt saved by Casilla as Leganes continue to impress here.

Real Madrid have offered nothing in the first 18 minutes of this football match.

Leganes are absolutely full of beans here as they continue to pass and probe in the final third. A brilliant move sees Eraso release Amrabat, but the number seven was just in an offside position.

Leganes threaten once again as El Zhar drives into the Real Madrid box, but Isco had followed him all the way, and eventually the attacker is crowded out. Casilla then kicks into touch as groans from the home supporters occur once again. Leganes have been comfortably the better team thus far.

Amrabat dances past a couple of challenges before delivering a low cross into the Real Madrid box, but there are no takers. Real Madrid continue to struggle in the final third of the field here.

The Real Madrid supporters behind Casilla's goal are full of noise at the moment, but their team is struggling to get going. Indeed, Leganes remain the better side with 26 minutes on the clock here.

BOOKING! Tito (Leganes) is booked for a foul on Isco.

Isco's free kick is poor as the ball flies harmlessly over the crossbar.

GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Leganes (Eraso)

Oh my word! Stunning! Leganes take the lead in the 32nd minute as Eraso takes advantage of a poor pass from Achraf to fire the ball into the top corner. Stunning effort from the attacker!

Real Madrid deserve to be behind at this stage of the match; there is absolutely no doubt about that. As it stands, we are heading for extra-time, but still a lot of football to be played in this game.

Ramos gives the ball away as groans arrive from the home supporters. Benzema, Asensio and Lucas just have not been in this football match, while Isco has struggled to get involved.

Surely Real Madrid will be better in the second period, which makes you think that Leganes will need a second goal to stand a chance of progressing tonight. There is no Ronaldo, no Bale on the home side's bench here. The likes of Asensio and Benzema really need to step forward here.

CHANCE! Benzema just fails to make contact on a super cross from Isco!

Real Madrid have been a touch better since Leganes took the lead, but the away side are still pretty comfortable with 42 minutes on the clock. As it stands, we are all square in this quarter-final.

Eraso pulls Lucas to the deck just outside the Leganes box...

... Asensio's free kick was always too high.

I suspect that there will be a few strong words in the Real Madrid dressing room at the break. The Spanish champions just have not been at it tonight, but a lot of credit must go to Leganes.

HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 0-1 Leganes

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Leganes leading 1-0 at the Bernabeu courtesy of a wonderful strike from Eraso. We are all square in this Copa del Rey quarter-final, and as it stands, we will be heading for extra-time. Real Madrid have to improve!

STATISTICS! Real Madrid have dominated the possession with 61%, but the home side failed to register a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes. Leganes, on the other hand, hit the target with three of their five attempts. Just the one booking to report - Leganes' Tito in the 27th minute.

BENCH WATCH! Carvajal, Casemiro, Mayoral and Modric are among those on the Real Madrid bench tonight, and it would not be a surprise to see at least two of those in the second period. The visitors Leganes, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Guerrero, Sierra and Garcia.

RESTART! Leganes resume the action here...

... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.

GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Leganes (Benzema)

Real Madrid level the scores in the 47th minute as Benzema chips over Champagne from a narrow angle. It was a wonderful pass from Lucas, and Benzema was on hand to find the back of the net.

Real Madrid now lead 2-1 on aggregate, but Leganes are still very much in the match, and a second for the visitors would place them back in control. It is very delicately poised in the capital here.

Not an awful lot to report since Benzema levelled the scores, but Real Madrid are certainly moving the ball quicker than they did in the first period. Leganes just need to stay in the game here.

Good pressure from Leganes in the last minute or two as Real Madrid fail to deal with a couple of corners in quick succession, but eventually the danger is cleared. Nervy moments for the hosts.

I would be very surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in this match as both teams continue to press players forward. A second for Leganes would put the visitors back in control of this tie.

GOAL! Real Madrid 1-2 Leganes (Gabriel)

Leganes lead for the second time in this match! It is a bullet header from Gabriel!

Incredible scenes at the Bernabeu as Gabriel's header from a corner makes it 2-1 to the visitors.

LEGANES SUB! Mantovani replaces Siovas for the away side.

Gabriel is a class act for this Leganes team - an absolute class act. The number eight just scored his side's second goal, but his overall work has been absolutely wonderful.

Still a lot of football to be played here, and you have to think that Real Madrid will create chances before the 90 minutes is up. Leganes though could well score another down the other end.

Theo breaks down the left for the home side before delivering into the Leganes box, but there are no takers, and the visitors clear their lines once again. Still 2-1 to Leganes on the night here.

Leganes are very deep at the moment as Real Madrid force the issue. Just a reminder that Leganes are winning on away goals, but we still have more than 20 minutes of football remaining here.

REAL MADRID SUB! Carvajal and Modric replace Achraf and Llorente.

LEGANES SUB! Garcia replaces Amrabat for the away side.

Groans from the Bernabeu as another Real Madrid attack breaks down!

Half-chance for the visitors as Eraso finds space inside the Real Madrid box, but Theo is across to make a fine challenge. A third for Leganes would make things very tough for the home side.

BOOKING! Champagne (Leganes) is booked for timewasting.

Real nervousness inside the stadium at the moment, and that is not a surprise. Real Madrid are heading out of the competition as things stand, but you fancy that there will be chances in the final 10 minutes or so. Maybe Zidane should have put Bale on the bench tonight!

REAL MADRID SUB! Mayoral replaces Isco for the home side.

BOOKING! Ramos (Real Madrid) is booked for a tug on Beauvue.

LEGANES SUB! Naranjo replaces El Zhar in the away side's final change.

Almost silent inside the Bernabeu as we head for the final minutes of this match.

SAVE! Champagne makes a stunning save to deny Benzema from inside the box!

Mayoral heads just wide from inside the box as the pressure increases here.

Little over five minutes of normal time remaining, and Leganes still lead on away goals here.

SAVE! Champagne tips a Ramos header over the crossbar!

Time is fast running out here, and Leganes survive once again as Kovacic's long ball is too strong. Zidane cannot believe it on the touchline - his team are heading out as things stand here.

Leganes continue to clear their lines as we head for stoppage time here.

We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the 90 here.

Another corner comes and goes, and Leganes are almost there. This is incredible. The whistles from the Bernabeu are going to be extremely loud if this finishes 1-2; that is for sure.

FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 1-2 Leganes (Leganes win on away goals)

What a result! Leganes book their spot in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 2-1 win at Real Madrid. Big trouble for Zidane now! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!

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