Madrid knocked out of Copa del Rey on away goals

Leganes were determined to progress to the semi-final of the Copa del Rey for the first time in the club’s history as they took on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

The visitors, who were looking to overturn a 1-0 aggregate deficit, had a brilliant chance to take the lead in the opening minutes of the game when Claudio Beauvue hit the post from a well-struck free-kick in the 5th minute, which Kiko Casilla had foolishly left thinking it was going out.

However, ‘Los Pepineros’ would be rewarded for their early chances thanks to a wonder goal from Javier Eraso in the 31st minute. The midfielder found himself in tonnes of space 25-yards from the goal and decided to have a go. He struck the ball beautifully to nestle it in the top left corner, giving Casilla no chance of saving it and lighting the tie alive.

The hosts did not look at the races in the first-half, failing to register a shot on target for the second time this season in all competitions. Ironically, the other occasion was against Leganes in the first-leg of their quarter-final fixture.

It meant that Zinedine Zidane's team had to come out all guns blazing if they were to progress to the semi-finals, with the tie going to extra-time if the score finished 1-1 on aggregate.

It appeared that 'Los Blancos' were prepared to do just that as Karim Benzema restored their aggregate lead in the 47th minute after picking the ball up from Lucas Vasquez on the right-hand side and running at goal before calmly chipping the ball over Nereo Champagne.

But their lead would only last for eight minutes as Gabriel Pires shocked Real Madrid to give Leganes the lead for the second time. The Brazilian rose highest in a crowded box to power home a thunderous header to restore the visitors' lead and leave the Bernabeu stunned.

Even though the tie was level on 2-2, it meant that Asier Garitano's side would progress should the score stay the same due to the away goal rule. 

- Real onslaught - 

The goal forced Zinedine Zidane into substitutions with seasoned pros Dani Carvajal and Luka Modric replacing youngsters Achraf Hakini and Marcos Llorente. However, the home side couldn't find the break-through desìte having a host of chances.

The Leganes goalkeeper was forced into three great saves in the space of minutes as the Champions League holders became increasingly desperate to snatch a late winner. Benzema had arguably the best chance of the lot in the 81st minute as the Frenchman connected well from a pull-back by Vazquez but couldn't direct it far enough away from Champagne to find the back of the net. 

The 33-year-old also managed to get a hand to a powerful Sergio Ramos header, who was making his return from a calf injury, tipping it over for a goal-kick.

After three added minutes, the referee blew for full-time securing a historic victory for the visitors who were beyond belief at what they had achieved. They are the first team in the Spanish Cup to knock out 'Los Blancos' at the Bernabeu after losing at home in the first leg.

As for Real Madrid, it's back to the drawing board again after their 7-1 thrashing of Deportivo is cancelled out by a lack of clinical finishing and poor defending in another disappointing performace which sees their opportunities for silverware diminish further.