In homage to an eternal legend like Pelé, the Brazilian Rodrygo signed the 1-0 with which Real Madrid narrowly beat the modest Cacereño, for the Copa del Rey round of 16.
Obviously, Merengue considers the Copa del Rey a less important competition: in fact, its last conquest was in 2014. With few headlines, at the Príncipe Felipe de Cáceres stadium they avoided discredit due to an individual action by Rodrygo, after a first half for oblivion.
The Cacereño matched him with the courage of someone who has nothing to lose. And with high pressure and the intensity that was lacking in the madridistas, because the return of Eden Hazard to ownership was inconsequential.
Thus, with a couple of attempts by Marco Asensio and some quality action by Rodrygo, a lazy and confident Real Madrid appeared, who let time pass because the locals did not worry too much.
Even with the French World Cup players Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga on the pitch, the team led by Italian Carlo Ancelotti offered little play. He warned Asensio at game time with a left-footed whiplash and ended up waking up with Rodrygo’s great individual action. With the prize of the goal he no longer felt danger.
thrashed Villarreal
Villarreal (with the entry of Juan Foyth and Gerónimo Rulli on the bench, both world champions with Argentina) beat Damián Musto’s Cartagena 5-1, with goals from Alex Baena, José Luis Morales, the Nigerian Samuel Chukwueze and the French Arnaut Danjuma and Etienne Capoue. Pablo Vázquez discounted.
On his side, Espanyol took out of the Copa del Rey the Celta of goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín (who saw the red card in extra time) and Franco Cervi, after beating him 3-1. The Portuguese Gonçalo Paciência opened the account for those from Vigo, but the Catalans turned it around with Javi Puado, Sergi Darder and Nicolás Melamed.
With the Argentines Manuel Cocca, Lautaro Blanco and Ezequiel Ponce (later expelled), plus the entry of Lucas Boyé, Elche was eliminated by AD Ceuta, after falling 1-0 with a penalty goal by Pedri.
Also, Rayo Vallecano (with the entry of Oscar Trejo) lost 2-0 against Sporting Gijón with a brace from Serbian Uroš Milovanović. Other results: Levante 3-Getafe 2 and La Nucia 0-Valencia 3.
How is the Copa del Rey going?
There will be more action this Wednesday with two games starting at 3:00 p.m.: Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla will face Linares and Logroñés will do the same with Real Sociedad.
For their part, at 4:00 p.m., Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid will face Real Oviedo, while from 5:00 p.m. Intercity-Barcelona and Alavés-Valladolid will play.