Real Madrid progressed into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, but had Keylor Navas to thank after suffering a 1-0 loss to Leganes.
Santiago Solari’s came into the second leg having won 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu and ultimately that is what sent them into the last eight of the competition. Leganes will reflect on some missed opportunities. They could have pulled off a comeback.
Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Leganes v Real Madrid - Butarque Municipal Stadium, Leganes, Spain - January 16, 2019 Leganes coach Mauricio Pellegrino and Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari before the match
Image credit: Reuters
Martin Braithwaite caused Real Madrid problems throughout and grabbed what proved to be the game’s only goal after 30 minutes, powering home a header past Navas from a Javi Eraso cross into the box.
Navas made a number of astonishing saves in the second half, preventing Leganes from forcing extra time, with substitute Brahim Diaz hitting the post late on. In the end, Real Madrid did enough over the two legs, but this did little to ease the pressure mounting on Solari.
TALKING POINT - The Isco saga will continue to run and run
Real Madrid are into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, but the headlines tomorrow will be about the interaction, or lack thereof, between Solari and Isco. There wasn’t even eye contact between the two men as the playmaker was taken off in the second half. The relationship between player and manager has seemingly broken down. So what next for Isco at Real Madrid?
Isco of Real Madrid CF in action during the Copa del Rey Round of 16 second leg match between CD Leganes and Real Madrid at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on January 16, 2019 in Leganes, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH - Martin Braithwaite (Leganes)
The Dane will likely rue a number of spurned scoring opportunities over the two legs against Real Madrid. The world and European champions never really got a grip of Braithwaite and he got the goal his performance deserved in the first half. Were it not for Navas, he might have scored a hat-trick in this second leg. The striker was still the best player on the pitch, though, and the kind of attacking presence Real Madrid are lacking right now with Karim Benzema injured.
Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Leganes v Real Madrid - Butarque Municipal Stadium, Leganes, Spain - January 16, 2019 Leganes' Martin Braithwaite celebrates scoring their first goal with Vasyl Kravets
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Leganes - Cuellar 7, Juanfran 6, Bustinza 6, Siovas 7, Omeruo 5, Kravets 6, Gumbau 7, Recio 6, Eraso 7, Braithwaite 8, Sabin 7. Subs - Silva 5, El-Nesyri 5, Arnaiz 5.
Real Madrid - Navas 8, Odriozola 7, Nacho 6, Varane 6, Reguilon 4, Casemiro 5, Valverde 5, Isco 5, Vazquez 5, Marcelo 5, Vinicius 7. Subs - Ceballos 6, Brahim 5, Cristo 5.
KEY MOMENTS
30’ GOAL! Leganes 1-0 Real Madrid: Leganes have given themselves a lifeline! Braithwaite hits the post with a header from an Eraso cross, the ball pinballs around the box and then falls to the Dane for a second time, who scores into the gaping net.
68’ Close for Leganes! Braithwaite causes mayhem in the Real Madrid box, with a miskick very nearly putting him through on Navas, but Odriozola was on hand to make the tackle.
89’ Off the post! What an opportunity for Brahim to open his account for Real Madrid. A lightning run from Vinicius down the left set up the chance, but Cuellar saved from the youngster.
90+3’ Navas double save! The Costa Rican goalkeeper makes sure there will no late nerves for Real Madrid, first saving from Braithwaite and then denying Arnaiz. Fantastic from Navas!
KEY STATS
Leganes became the second team to have won against both Barcelona and Real Madrid this season (after Levante).
Only one La Liga team (Huesca - 44) have conceded more goals than Real Madrid this season (in competitions). Levante and Rayo Vallecano have conceded the same - 37.
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