Defeat in extra time at the Bernabéu
Atleti were the better side for much of the game but Rodrygo's goal in the 79th minute sent the tie into extra time. Goals from Benzema and Vinicius decided the game.
The Copa del Rey quarterfinal was a full-fledged final. The first warning came from Correa, with a long-range shot that went wide. But with one of the best Red & White combinations, the first goal of the match arrived. Correa passed to Koke in Real Madrid's halfway line and the captain took out his line, square and square, to pass a measured pass to Molina on the right. The Argentinian saw the space and played a brilliant pass to Morata for him to tap into the net.
The local team tried to get close to Oblak's goal but they were met with a solid defence with no fissures. Only from outside the box were they able to trouble the home side. On the half-hour mark, a Correa cross-shot was saved by Courtois. In the 31st minute, a free-kick from Kroos was headed over the bar by Militao under the sticks. And, in the 33rd minute, another good move with a pass from De Paul to Lemar, and the latter's cross sailed in front of the white goal, missing Morata's shot by centimetres.
The home side came out with the intention of levelling the contest but found themselves up against Oblak. Benzema shot in the 57th minute but the Slovenian produced a prodigious hand to deflect the ball wide, and when the ball fell to Vinicius, Savic came to the rescue to clear. In the 72nd minute it was Griezmann's direct free kick that forced the Belgian goalkeeper to turn it behind for a corner. From that corner taken by Griezmann, Savic extended to the far post and De Paul's cross was headed in by Witsel with a bicycle kick that skimmed the right-hand post of the home side's goal.
The equaliser came in the 79th minute with a Rodrygo shot. Shortly afterwards, in the 84th minute, Griezmann shot high after a pass from Witsel. And, in extra time, Memphis made a run towards the rival goal, he linked up with Griezmann and his shot was deflected for a corner by Courtois. Despite attempts by both sides to score a second goal, the game went to extra time.
In extra time Savic saw two yellow cards in just two minutes and was sent off. Our side continued to hold firm but it was 2-1 when Asensio's cross was not finished off by Vinicius but he set up Benzema to score at the far post. In the 110th minute, from a corner, Memphis shot into the six-yard box and Courtois saved. The team gave their all and, with a player less, put Madrid in trouble but it was not to be. Vinicius would score the definitive 3-1 in the extension of the second half of extra time. On Sunday, the next LaLiga game against Osasuna at El Sadar.
