Real Madrid stumble against Numancia but reach Cup quarters

Real Madrid staggered into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey despite being held to a 2-2 draw by second tier Numancia at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The result was ultimately irrelevant following Real’s convincing 3-0 win in last week’s first leg, but Numancia, who equalised twice after falling behind, exposed some of the issues that Zinedine Zidane’s side are suffering from at the moment.

The Frenchman made a number of changes to his team, with Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio, Borja Mayoral and Theo Hernandez all handed starting places.

Lucas Vazquez gave the hosts the lead after just 12 minutes, only for substitute Guillermo to level the scoring on the stroke of half time. Vazquez doubled his, and Real Madrid’s tally, after the break, but once again Numancia hit back through Guillermo.

And it was the hosts who dominated the latter stages as they looked for a goal that would give them a famous win in the capital. Real held on, though, for a wholly unimpressive 2-2 draw.

What has happened to Marco Asensio? Last season, he was the brightest young talent in Europe. Indeed, Asensio was considered a home-grown Galactico for Real Madrid, fighting with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale for a starting spot. Now, he is a peripheral figure and his performance tonight showed that something is wrong with the 21-year-old. Asensio is a long, long way from being at his best.

Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid) He doesn’t always get the credit that he deserves, but Vazquez was the best player in the Real Madrid team tonight. He scored his first ever brace for the club and was their main man in attack, leading the line, creating space and finishing chances. Zidane has come in for criticism for sticking by the winger for so long, but this was a demonstration of what he can do.

Real Madrid - Casilla 5, Carvajal 7, Vallejo 5, Nacho 6, Theo 5, Kovacic 5, Llorente 6, Ceballos 8, Vazquez 8, Asensio 5, Mayoral 5. Subs - Casemiro 5, Isco 4, Hakimi 5.

Numancia - Munir 5, Medina 6, Elgezabal 5, Calvo 4, Garcia 6, Grego 6, Larrea 6, Nacho 7, Nieto 6, Mateu 5, Higinio 5. Subs - Guillermo 8, Milla 5, Exteberria 5.

11’ GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Numancia (4-0 on aggregate): There's the opener for Real Madrid! The cross was whipped to the backpost by Carvajal, where Vazquez had lost his marker. And the winger did well direct his header down and into the back of the net.

45’ GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Numancia (4-1 on aggregate): It's happened again! Numancia come forward on the counter attack, with the ball centred for Guillermo to finish from close range. Where was the Real Madrid defence? They just allowed the attacker to drift in there completely unmarked.

59’ GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Numancia (5-1 on aggregate): Vazquez grabs his second of the night to put Real Madrid back in front! Asensio crossed in for Mayoral to head back to the winger, who made no mistake in finding the net.

78’ HOW DIDN'T THAT GO IN? Numancia come incredibly close to another equaliser. This time, a combination of two Real Madrid defenders so just enough to squeeze the ball past the post.

82’ GOAL! Real Madrid 2-2 Numancia (5-2 on aggregate): Guillermo has helped himself to another Numancia have the equaliser that they had been threatening! The cross into the forward was a good one, but the header into the far corner of the net was even better.

92’ SENT OFF! Calvo is shown a deserved second yellow card and that means Numancia end the match with 10 men.

Lucas Vazquez scored his first brace in 109 matches for Real Madrid.

Vazquez has now scored more goals this season (five) than in his previous two seasons (when he scored four in each).