MATCH REPORT. 05/01/2022. Alberto Navarro
Our team beat Alcoyano thanks to strikes by Militão, Asensio, and an own goal, to clinch a place in the next round.
E. Militão
Hazard
Real Madrid got the better of Alcoyano at El Collao to clinch their place in the Copa del Rey last 16. Our team will be in the draw set to take place on Friday, after they delivered a disciplined display which saw them go into half-time with a lead thanks to Militão's header. The hosts levelled after the break but goals from Asensio and José Juan, who turned into his own net following a tussle with Isco, made sure of a spot in the next round. “We're starting out in what is a very important competition for us and our goal is to win it", explained Ancelotti in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Copa opener. And the team delivered. They ensured there would be no upset this evening, showing impressive discipline throughout. Nonetheless, Alcoyano were the first to threaten, when Fran Miranda's shot from inside the area just four minutes in was cleared off the line by the head of Camavinga. There was then little action of note until Militão opened the scoring with 39 minutes on the clock. Both teams came closest with efforts from distance, first when Carlos Blancos tried his luck on 35’, before Rodrygo responded in kind two minutes later. Indeed, it was the Brazilian who whipped in the resulting corner, finding his compatriot who had pulled away from his marker to head past goalkeeper José Juan.
VIDEO.1-3: Real Madrid book place in the Copa last 16
Our boys looked far more solid after the restart as the Whites bossed possession and were barely made to break sweat defensively. Indeed, the madridistas came close to doubling the advantage through two long-range strikes from Alaba on 51’ and 64’. However, the whole complexion of the game changed just two minutes later, when Alcoyano restored parity following a solo run and finish from Dani Vega that levelled up the tie. However, Ancelotti’s charges hit back and regained the lead in the 77th minute. Eden Hazard laid the ball off to Asensio, whose effort from the edge of the area ended up in the back of the net after a deflection off Raúl altered the course of his shot. Barely a minute later, Isco brought the ball under his spell inside the box and in a coming together with the diminutive midfielder, José Juan contrived to turn the ball into his own net. The visitors now led 3-1 and the tie was firmly beyond Alcoyano’s reach. Real Madrid now await to find out their fate in Friday’s last-16 draw.
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