A Gareth Bale-style goal from 20-year-old Marco Asensio, a Sergio Ramos Paneka penalty, and a third goal from Karim Benzema with the last kick of the game, put Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and took their unbeaten run to 40 matches.
Sevilla came into the second leg 3-0 down from the first game but they are the team that never know when they are beaten and with the help of a debut goal from former Manchester City forward Stevan Jovetic they so nearly turned the tie around and ended Madrid’s run.
Asensio’s strike was the pick of the six goals and good enough to win any game. He galloped from deep inside his own half to score it, covering 70 metres in 11 seconds.
Not since Bale ran from the halfway line in the Copa del Rey final in 2014 had we seen anything like it. He did not make the Bale detour off the pitch but he showed the same power and control to finish after such a lung-busting run. Against another rival it might have put the game to bed but against Sevilla it merely kick-started the drama.
They had come into the game needing an early goal and they got it from an unexpected source. Real Madrid left-back Danillo threw himself at Pablo Sarabia’s cross and headed it past his own goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.
That made it 3-1 on aggregate and Sevilla were lifted with Wissam Ben Yedder going close on several occasions as Madrid wobbled. Danilo was booked for a foul as his night got no better.
Madrid threatened too and Mariano had a goal chalked-off for offside. They were soon up against former Manchester City striker Jovetic. He came on for his debut replacing the injured Joaquin Correa just before half-time.
Before he could make his mark on the game Asensio made his. He was inside his own half when Real Madrid keeper Casilla punched the ball clear. He glided past the first white-shirted opponent midway inside his own half, then proceeded to run the length of the pitch to score.
It was Sevilla forward Luciano Vietto who tried to stay with him but he was out-paced and overpowered and when Sevilla keeper David Soria came out to close the angle, Asensio slipped the ball through his legs and it trickled over the line.
It was some goal but such is the cup spirit of Sevilla it did nothing to dampen spirits in the Sanchez Pizjuan.
They made it 2-1 on the night and 2-4 on aggregate when Jovetic announced himself formally on his new Spanish stage. Sergio Escudero crossed from the left and the Montenegro forward lashed a shot past Casilla.
Sevilla’s ballsy coach Jorge Sampaoli was going for it now. He had held back some first teamers with one eye on Sunday’s league repeat of this fixture. But he threw on Samir Nasri and Vitolo to roars from the home supporters.
Sevilla duly closed the gap to one goal on aggregate with their third of the night. Casilla failed to deal with a cross from the Sevilla right and when he pushed the ball out into Vicente Iborra’s path the midfielder poked the ball home to make it 3-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.
There were still ten minutes left and Real Madrid appeared to be hanging on but Ramos eased their nerves. Casemiro was bundled over in the box and with his former supporters abusing him behind the goal he dinked a Panenka penalty past Soria to finally kill off the never-say-die home side.
Madrid even got to keep their unbeaten run going when Benzema struck on 93 minutes to make it 3-3 on the night. Madrid through, and still seemingly invincible.
Source: NAN
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