Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior scores in opposition to Atletico Madrid within the quarterfinal of the Copa del Rey on January 26, 2023
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. scored in further time as Real Madrid fought again to beat native rivals Atletico 3-1 on Thursday and attain the Copa del Rey semifinals.
On a freezing evening at a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu internet hosting its first sport for 77 days because of the World Cup break, Real began slowly and Atletico had many harmful counter-attacks.
Atletico captain Koke delivered an excellent by way of ball to Nahuel Molina who ghosting in behind Real’s defence and the complete again arrange Alvaro Morata, a former Real academy participant, to faucet the ball into an empty web within the nineteenth minute.
Eder Militao wasted a golden likelihood to equalise within the thirty second minute after Toni Kroos had delivered an ideal cross.
It was not solely till Dani Ceballos got here off the bench to switch the injured Ferland Mendy late within the first half that Real began to play higher.
The 26-year-old midfielder injected a brand new dynamic into the group who have been way more aggressive after the break.
Benzema wasted two good alternatives and Federico Valverde additionally despatched a shot extensive from simply exterior the field.
Substitute Rodrygo equalised within the 79th with a pleasant purpose, dribbling previous three defenders earlier than ending effectively.
With Real Madrid in full management, Atletico performed most of additional time with 10 males after defender Stefan Savic was proven his second yellow card for chopping down Eduardo Camavinga within the 99th minute.
Five minutes later, Real substitute Marco Asensio despatched a low cross into the field and Vinicius’s deflected shot reached Benzema who unleashed an unstoppable strike into the web.
Vinicius secured Real’s win within the dying seconds with an excellent particular person purpose, working half the size of the pitch earlier than scoring with a low shot.
“We got behind very early and after Mendy’s injury the whole team had to be rebuilt. But we woke up and played really well after the break,” Ceballos informed TVE.
“They played better in the first half, but the coach corrected things in the second; we took control of the ball and found the goal. Then, after the red card, everything was easier.”
Real Madrid joined Barcelona, Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao within the semifinals.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
