Real Madrid through to Copa del Rey quarter-finals despite defeat at Leganes

Posted Thursday, January 17, 2019 by PA

Real Madrid slipped to defeat at Leganes but still advanced to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate win.

Madrid head coach Santiago Solari made only four changes from the LaLiga victory at Real Betis on Sunday as the likes of Keylor Navas, Raphael Varane, Casemiro and Vinicius Junior all started the 1-0 loss at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

Real Madrid through to Copa del Rey quarter-finals despite defeat at Leganes — Martin Braithwaite, second left, grabbed the winner on the night for Leganes (AP Photo/Valentina Angela)

A Martin Braithwaite tap-in on the half-hour mark was enough to seal victory for Leganes on the night but it is 19-time winners Real who progress into the next round.

The hosts set about their near-impossible task of toppling Madrid as Dimitris Siovas had an early sighter before Gerard Gumbau missed his jump as he was picked out six yards in front of Navas’ goal.

Real’s first decent chance came from Leganes’ own making as goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar was closed down by Sergio Reguilon, with the clearance ricocheting off the defender and bouncing wide.

📸➡🏆 A defeat on the night but we''re through to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals! #RMCopa pic.twitter.com/70UPFYYbyf
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 16, 2019

It was still the home side making the more clear-cut opportunities and Sabin Merino headed just wide after drifting away from Reguilon.

Leganes, who sit 13th in LaLiga, were ahead soon after as Braithwaite headed against the post and Navas did well to save from Merino, only for Braithwaite to gobble up the loose ball and finish from close-range.

Vinicius had a good chance to level before the interval but could not hit the target and he blazed over with a rare glimpse of goal in a quieter second-half.

With five minutes remaining Merino should have left Real Madrid sweating but could not keep his composure when in on goal and wasted the chance to add a second for Leganes.

New recruit Brahim Diaz hit the post in injury time as Solari’s side looked to leave with a draw, with Navas doing well to prevent a Leganes goal at the death with a couple of smart stops.