FC Barcelona missed their next title chance in the Spanish Football Cup. Despite the debut goal of 55 million euro debutant Ferran Torres, the Catalans, who are already far behind in the championship, lost 2: 3 (2: 2, 1: 1) with national goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the round of 16 as cup defenders at Athletic Bilbao extension off.
Record champions Real Madrid, on the other hand, trembled at FC Elche with a 2-1 (0-0) after extra time in the round of the top eight and can therefore continue to hope for their first cup win since 2014.
In the replay of last year’s final in regulation time, Torres (20′) and Pedri (90’+2′) equalized twice the hosts’ leads through Iker Muniain (7′) and Inigo Martinez (86′), thereby forcing extra time. Muniain (105+2) made the decision in favor of the Basques again with a penalty kick.
Premier League leaders Real had a lot more trouble than expected with ex-world champion Toni Kroos in the starting line-up in a duel against league rivals Elche, who were threatened with relegation. Kroos, Bayern Munich’s ex-defense star David Alaba and Co. could hardly live up to their role as favorites.
In extra time after the zero number in the regular season, the Madrilenians even had to go out as early as last year in the round of 32 after the dismissal of their defensive strategist Marcelo (102nd) and Elche’s almost immediate lead by Gonzalo Verdu (104th). to fear. After that, however, Isco (108th) initiated the turnaround. Five minutes before the end of extra time, Eden Hazard saved coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team a penalty shoot-out with the winner. The hosts robbed themselves of their last chance in extra time with a yellow-red card for Pere Milla (120+2).
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