Alcoyano v Real Madrid Live Commentary & Result, 05/01/22, Copa del Rey

That's all from us, we hope you enjoyed this game as much as we did, and we'll see you for the next one, goodbye!

Unlike this fixture in last season's Copa del Rey, Real did manage to scrape through, and will advance into the last 16. For Alcoyano, their gallant performance won't be remembered as well as their giant-killing from 2021, however they can still be more than proud of how they took on Los Blancos, making the El Collao a far from comfortable place for the Galacticos to visit once more.

Madrid's Rodrygo was simply exceptional in this game, and not only set up the opening goal with a corner, he also had two shots and two key passes, and completed a cross in what was a highly energetic performance from the Brazilian winger.

Well, history didn't repeat itself after all! With Militao opening the scoring, and the hosts then equalising, the upset looked on once more, but alas, it wasn't to be. Those two Real Madrid goals, both coming from unfortunate deflections, proved the difference, as Los Blancos produced a significantly improved second-half performance to ensure that they maintained their lead until the final whistle, and progress into the next round at Alcoyano's expense.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: ALCOYANO 1-3 REAL MADRID.

90' + 3' CHANCE!!! Juli's corner is swung in towards a flurry of bodies, and Lunin drops the ball under pressure! Mourad looks to pounce, before Marcelo steps in and hoofs the ball clear!

90' + 3' Lillo whips in a fantastic cross into the Madrid box, and Militao is forced into a panicked header that goes behind for a corner to Alcoyano.

90' + 1' We're into four minutes of stoppage time, and nothing short of a miracle will stop Real from advancing at this stage in the match.

90' Mourad smashes Nacho in the midriff as he looks to connect with a throw-in, and the Real defender is still on the floor in a heap following that challenge.

88' Those two quick-fire goals have really taken the sting out of this match. Alcoyano will keep coming at Los Blancos, but they're a clear second-best now and the away side are easily keeping the ball at the moment.

Dani Ceballos

Rodrygo

86' Rodrygo has really impressed tonight, but he makes way for Dani Ceballos to be introduced.

Vallejo

D. Alaba

86' Alaba comes off for Real, and Jesus Vallejo will close out the match in the heart of their defence.

85' Asensio has been very lively since coming on for Real. As well as scoring their second goal, he's also produced two key passes, as well as completing a cross.

83' SAVED!!! Anton cuts inside from the right and heads towards goal. He shoots low from about 15 yards, forcing Lunin into a low save down to his left to keep out the hosts once more!

82' Alcoyano win possession and Mourad drives into the box. He crosses, but it deflects off Alaba and goes behind for a corner to the hosts.

Javier García

Dani Vega

80' Alcoyano bring off their goalscorer Vega, to be replaced by Javier Garcia Guillen.

Rodrygo

Yellow Card

80' Rodrygo scythes down Vega and is rightfully yellow carded. That could've been a different colour, had the Madrid winger followed through further.

José Juan

Own Goal

78' GOOOALLLL!!!! Real make it three!!! Isco is put through on goal by a series of defections and stabs the ball past Figueras, but the Alcoyano keeper got the last touch and so it will go down as an own goal by him! It's such a disappointing few minutes for the hosts, who have seen two goals come off the back of defections!

Isco

E. Camavinga

78' The booked Camavinga is also withdrawn, and on comes Isco for Madrid.

T. Kroos

E. Hazard

78' Hazard comes off after having set up that potential winner, and Toni Kroos replaces him.

E. Hazard

Assist

76' After a recent attack previous had broken down for Hazard, that assist is a reprieve for the Belgian, who has had a rather quiet game up until this point.

Asensio

Goal

76' GOOOALLLL!!!! Real re-take the lead!!! An Alcoyano counter-attack breaks down and back come Madrid, and Hazard tees up Asensio on the edge of the area. His placed finish takes a wicked deflection which leaves Figueras with no chance, as the ball bobbles into the back of the net to make it 2-1 to Los Blancos! A stroke of luck perhaps, but the hosts are still more than capable of salvaging something!

74' WIDE!!! Hazard looks to create space inside the before teeing up Valverde on the edge of the area. His hooked effort looks to have taken a nick on its way beyond the goal, but the corner is not given!

73' This pressing from Alcoyano is getting ridiculous. The Real players barely have half a second to make a decision upon getting the ball, and they're being hurried with increasing speed by the home side to an extent that when a foul is blown, as one just has been, it's with relief for the away side.

71' SAVED!!! Asensio swings in a Madrid corner, and Camavinga rises to head the ball towards the far corner. It's a looping header, which Figueras gets across to save and hold at the second time of asking!

Imanol García

Yellow Card

70' Garcia pulls back Camavinga as Real look to break on halfway, and the professional foul is met with a yellow card from the referee.

70' BLOCKED!!! Rodrygo cuts inside and looks to shoot from the edge of the box, but his effort is blocked. It looks like it's going behind, but Figueras races out to catch the bouncing ball and prevent the corner!

68' As well as setting up that equaliser, Mourad has so far completed two shots and two key passes, and has been involved in more duels, both on the floor and in the air, than any other Alcoyano player.

Mourad

Assist

66' The chested pass from Mourad onto Vega, sending his fellow forward through on goal, was just mesmeric, and this game just got a hell of a lot more interesting!

Dani Vega

Goal

66' GGGGGGOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! Alcoyano equalise!!! Vega races into the box and cuts inside. He beats three Madrid players, before firing past Lunin to make it 1-1 and the stadium has erupted! Lightning may well be striking twice here as the hosts fire themselves right back into this game

64' WIDE!!! Alaba has advanced high up the pitch and is put into shooting space, but drags his 30-yard shot wide of Figueras' left-hand post!

62' Juli's first contribution is to catch Camavinga late, as the France midfielder skilfully looks to advance possession for the Madrid side.

Juli

Andy

60' Escudero also comes off, and is replaced by club captain Juli for the hosts.

Imanol García

Fran Miranda

60' Miranda is the next to come off, and Imanol Garcia will take his place in midfield.

Raúl González

Carlos Blanco

60' Blanco is brought off in Alcoyano's first change, and Raul Gonzalez Valls will replace him.

59' Escudero is put into space down the left and looks to cross, but it's a weak effort that Lunin is easily able to gather and hold.

E. Camavinga

Yellow Card

58' Camavinga catches Miranda late as he competes for the ball with both Miranda and Mourad, and is given the visitors' first booking in this match.

56' Los Blancos are in firm control at the moment, and have finally been able to exert some control over this game. They're maintaining 64 per cent possession in this match so far, and are moving the ball with much more freedom in this second half.

Juanan

Yellow Card

54' Juanan and Casemiro both rise high to compete for a high ball, and the Real midfielder is caught by the Alcoyano man, who is booked.

52' There's a scramble in and around the box following an Alcoyano corner, and Miranda catches Hazard quite late on the edge of the box. He concedes the free-kick, and seems quite lucky to have avoided a booking there.

Pablo Carbonell

Yellow Card

50' Militao wins possession and strides forward, before being fouled 30 yards from goal by Carbonell. The Alcoyano captain is given the first yellow card of the match for his troubles.

Asensio

M. Díaz

48' Mariano is withdrawn after that injury, and Marco Asensio is his replacement.

47' Mariano looks to cut inside and shoot, but injures himself in the process and is down receiving treatment.

46' The hosts kick off for the second half, and we're in for another 45 minutes, or more, of entertaining Copa del Rey football.

The teams re-enter the fray at El Collao, and Alcoyano will want to reply with a goal (or two) to save this tie!

It's been a busy first 45 minutes for Alcoyano's Anton down the right, who as well as producing two key passes, won the ball a game-high nine times. He also lost it 16 times though, also the most in the match, reflecting the frantic nature of this match so far!

45 minutes of end-to-end football come to an end, and Real enter half-time with a slender 1-0 lead! Alcoyano came straight at Los Blancos and produced a flurry of chances, really testing Lunin. However, it was Real who did produce the goods, with Militao popping up six minutes before half-time to head in the opener. Militao did score the opener in this fixture last season, and so time will tell if history really is set to repeat itself!

45' HALF-TIME: ALCOYANO 0-1 REAL MADRID.

43' There's a scramble from the corner, and Nacho looks to pull off a spectacular overhead kick which bobbles into the arms of Figueras in the Alcoyano goal!

42' BLOCKED!!! Camavinga drives towards goal, and looks to shoot from the edge of the box. Blanco gets in the way to block the shot, but the ball goes behind for a second successive Madrid corner!

41' It's come six minutes earlier than his goal in this fixture last year, but the onus is now on Militao and his Real teammates to not let this match slip once again!

Rodrygo

Assist

39' That was a great ball from Rodrygo at the corner, and the work of Militao to lose his man in creating the chance was just exceptional!

Éder Militão

Goal

39' GOOOAAALLLL!!! Real take the lead!!! In swings a Madrid corner, and Militao ghosts in at the front post to head beyond Figueras into an empty net! 1-0 to the away side, but don't forget that Militao has opened the scoring against Alcoyano before!

37' Rodrygo looks to create space and shoots, and Figueras watches the effort all the way as it rolls beyond the face of goal and around the left-hand post.

35' SAVED!!! The free-kick comes to nothing, but comes out to Blanco who tries his luck from some 40 yards. It's a dipping effort that is on target, and Lunin has to get down low to his left to tip it around the post!

33' OUCH!!! There's a bad foul in midfield as Casemiro catches Lillo high as the two contest for a loose ball. The Alcoyano defender is still down, and it'll be interesting to see if Casemiro receives a card, of either colour.

31' Anton swings in a high, hanging cross, that almost clips the crossbar on its way behind as Lunin watches it sail past him.

30' Lillo shunts Hazard to the floor as the Real winger looks to advance out of his own half and concedes the free-kick. It seems that the hosts will stop at nothing to limit the impact of Real's creative players on the break.

28' It's settled down a tad, as Real look to establish some sense of control and possession of the ball in this game. It's still hectic both on and off the pitch any time the hosts win the ball though, so there's little doubt that this game won't have many moments of calmness!

26' The free-kick is swung right into the area, and Lunin has to produce a diving punch to clear the ball away from danger in a crowded box!

25' Marcelo catches Anton on the right and is penalised for it. The referee doesn't book him, but looks likely to should the Madrid captain commit another foul of similar severity.

24' Under little pressure, Lunin fires the ball straight out of play and into the home crowd, who appear to be getting under his skin at the moment.

23' BLOCKED!!! Rodrygo strides forward and puts Mariano through on goal. He cuts inside before shooting from the edge of the area, but Primi is in the way and blocks his effort before clearing!

21' Vega beats two challenges and looks to shoot, before Militao nips in front of him and steals the ball just in time!

19' Mourad goes down in the box under pressure from Alaba, but the referee waves away any protests as the Madrid defender didn't touch the Alcoyano forward!

18' Hazard is crowded out inside the Alcoyano box and tees up Marcelo, but his effort is blocked by Blanco and the home side break away on the counter!

17' Mourad looks to dispossess Marcelo but catches the Madrid captain late and concedes the free-kick.

15' WIDE!!! Escudero's sniffing around again, cutting inside and into the box. He shoots from the left, but his effort smashes into the side netting and Real survive another scare!

14' Escudero whips in a dangerous-looking cross, which Mourad can't quite direct towards goal as his header is recovered easily enough by Marcelo.

12' Valverde looks to advance towards the Alcoyano box, before being hacked down 40 yards from goal by Escudero.

10' It's been a frantic start to say the least, with both teams going at it full speed inside this packed-out stadium. We've hardly had a second to breathe as yet, it's been that end-to-end so far!

8' PENALTY??? Anton's cross into the box is aimed at Vega, who goes down under pressure from Militao! The home fans cry out for a penalty, but they'll have to settle for an Alcoyano corner!

6' Mourad looks to flick the ball over the defence and shoot, but Lunin is there to collect the loose ball before the Alcoyano forward can latch onto it.

4' CHANCE!!!! There's a scramble in the box from the corner as a deflected Blanco effort is blocked off the line by Camavinga!

4' OVER!!! Vega takes a bouncing ball in his stride and looks to test Lunin with a looping volley, but the Madrid keeper tips it over the bar for the game's first corner!

3' Mariano races through on goal and shoots, but he's denied by Figueras as the offside flag goes up.

1' The visitors kick-off, and the most anticipated clash of this round of the Copa del Rey is underway!

The teams head onto the pitch, and the home crowd are really looking forward to this one!

Eder Militao got the opener in the fixture a year ago, and will look to keep out the Alcoyano attackers in the hope of avoiding a repeat of that momentous victory Real were on the receiving end of.

Juanan, who scored the winner in that famous victory a year ago, starts once again for Alcoyano in the middle of the park.

REAL MADRID SUBS: Jesus Vallejo, Toni Kroos, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez, Dani Ceballos, Isco, Toni Fuidias, Rafael Zamora, Peter, Diego Piniero.

REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Andriy Lunin; Nacho, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Marcelo; Federico Valverde, Casemiro, Eduardo Camavinga; Rodrygo, Mariano, Eden Hazard.

ALCOYANO SUBS: Raul Gonzalez Valls, Juli, Jona, Javier Garcia Guillen, Tomaz Stopajnik, Jose Antonio Abad, Angel Sanchez, Imanol Garcia, Victor Revert, Marcos Perez.

ALCOYANO (4-4-2): Jose Juan Figueras; Lillo, Primi, Carlos Blanco, Pablo Carbonell; Javi Anton, Fran Miranda, Juanan, Andy Escudero Jara; Mourad El Ghezouani, Dani Vega.

The winner in this fixture last season came after 115 minutes after a mere 90 couldn’t separate the two sides, but current La Liga leaders Real will be hoping that a repeat of that shock loss is avoided, and that they can put this tie to bed well before the possibility of extra time is mooted.

It’s the rematch of all rematches, as a fixture that doesn’t look too exciting on paper is spiced up by the fact that, at the same stage of this very competition last season, third-tier Alcoyano beat Los Blancos 2-1 at home to produce one of the biggest shocks in modern-day Spanish football history.

Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this match from the Round of 32 in the Copa de Rey, between Alcoyano and Real Madrid.

Alcoyano v Real Madrid Live Commentary, 06/01/22

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