Unionistas de Salamanca v Real Madrid Live Commentary & Result, 1/22/20, Copa del Rey

Bigger tests await for Madrid in the Copa del Rey then. On this evidence, no side should be frightened of facing them. That's all for now. Goodbye!

Madrid will now be in the draw for the next round later this week. They should be satisfied but no more with their win. Romero's goal, meanwhile, will live in Unionistas folklore for a while. They went mano a mano with Madrid and gave them a fright. It'll serve them well in their fight against relegation.

Madrid progress to the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey but Unionistas put up an admirable fight. Their fans are still jumping up and down, and why not? Bale gave Madrid an expected lead in the first half. Romero grabbed a memorable equaliser near to the hour mark before Gongora scored an unlucky own goal. Unionistas had a few great chances to equalise but couldn't, and Diaz finished them off at the death.

90' + 3' FULL TIME: UNIONISTAS 1-3 REAL MADRID

Casemiro

Assist

90' + 2' Casemiro claims the assist. Unionistas can be proud of their performance here. They had Madrid rattled for most of this match.

Brahim Díaz

Goal

90' + 2' GOAL! 3-1 MADRID! Diaz vanquishes Unionistas at the last. The winger skips past the attentions of Gongora and Romero to get into the box and lashes past Pereiro into the far bottom corner.

90' + 2' Unionistas' latest attack breaks down and Vinicius holds the ball up, waiting for support. Madrid work it to Diaz on the opposite side and...

90' Unionistas win a free-kick deep in their own half. They launch it into the mixer and Areola claims. They have three minutes to grab another famous equaliser.

89' Madrid win a corner down their left. Vinicius takes it short to Diaz who dribbles towards goal from the byline and crosses into the side netting.

M. Amouzou

Ayoze Placeres

87' Unionistas make their final change. Placeres goes off. The French midfielder Matthieu comes on.

86' Unionistas' attacking threat has faded in recent minutes. Madrid are starting to play slightly more cautiously.

84' Madrid nearly make it 3-1 to kill the game, wasting three chances to do so! First, Diaz bustles into the box and smashes a shot against the right-hand post. It bounces back to Carvajal - his cross finds Vinicius at the far post and Pereiro saves! Jovic is on the scene to tap in but Pereiro smothers it on the goal-line.

82' Andres hassles Militao as he chases down a loose ball into Madrid's penalty area. Madrid's Brazilian defender wins a free-kick.

Isco

J. Rodríguez

80' Madrid make their final change. James goes off for Isco.

Dieguito

Javi Navas

80' Unionistas substitution. Gonzalez comes on for Navas.

78' It's another Unionistas corner off Carvajal and it's so nearly 2-2! Gongora's cross comes in and lands to De La Nava in the middle of the six yard box. The striker is caught by surprise and doesn't get a clean connection - it's straight at Areola. Madrid had a gaping hole in their defence there.

77' Navas is fouled by James on Unionistas' right flank. The free-kick comes in and it's nodded on to Areola who drops to his right to claim it.

L. Jović

K. Benzema

75' Madrid substitution. Benzema trudges off to put a warm coat on. Jovic replaces him.

74' Benzema bears down on goal from the left of the box, jinks his way past Piojo and stings Pereiro's hands at the near post. Madrid corner. James plays a nice one-two to burst into the area and Unionistas hack the ball away.

72' This is turning into a bit of a slugfest now. Romero nearly wriggles away through the middle but has his pocket picked by Casemiro, the only Madrid midfielder who seems to want to defend. Marcelo slides in Benzema who drags his shot wide.

70' Diaz nearly latches onto a forward pass but Pereiro closes the angle down and Diaz can't keep the ball in play. Unionistas goal-kick.

Álvaro Romero

Yellow Card

68' Romero becomes the first player to find his name in the book as he arrives late on Carvajal. He's probably still full of adrenaline from his goal.

66' Madrid were far too open for that counter-attack, and half their players didn't seem like they could be bothered to rush back. They may have the lead again but it's by no means secure, the way that things are going.

64' Unionistas almost make it 2-2! What is going on with Madrid?! The home side counter and it's three-on-three! Andres crosses and De La Nava has all the time in the world to pick his shot in the box. Areola tips it aside at the near post. It's a Unionistas corner which Madrid clear first-time.

Juan Góngora

Own Goal

62' GOAL! 2-1 MADRID! Madrid get a touch of fortune and equalise quickly. Marcelo is free on the overlap and crosses in. It rolls through to the far post where Diaz slips. Gongora sticks a foot out in a bid to keep it out but only manages to put it into his own net.

60' Madrid seem affronted by that goal as they should. Unionistas have had eight shots to Madrid's seven now. The home fans are loving this.

58' What a moment that is in Unionistas' short history. That came seconds after Gallego had a shot go high and wide from outside the box. The underdogs have gone toe to toe with Madrid here, and deserve their equaliser.

Álvaro Romero

Goal

57' GOAL! 1-1 UNIONISTAS! The third-division side from Salamanca have equalised! Militao slips at a crucial moment and Romero races through on goal. No one in mint green closes him down and the substitute smashes the ball past Areola!

Álvaro Romero

Iván Garrido

55' It's Unionistas' turn to make a substitution. Garrido makes way for Romero.

Brahim Díaz

G. Bale

53' Madrid substitution. Their goalscorer Bale is the one who goes off. Diaz replaces him.

52' Nacho makes a crucial interception in his own box and gets clattered in the process. Madrid free-kick.

51' Unionistas win a corner which Madrid clear. They get a throw soon after as Marcelo nods a dangerous cross out on the right.

50' Madrid make a mess of the corner that comes from Pereiro's goal. If Madrid go two goals up, you have to say Unionistas are probably done for.

49' Bale curls a speculative cross into the box from the right and Zubiri heads it away. Madrid try again and.Pereiro makes himself big to keep James' first-time shot out at the near post!

47' It's a scrappy start to the second half with neither team making much headway. That'll suit Unionistas just fine if it keeps them in the game.

45' The second half gets underway! No changes by either side at half-time.

Unionistas' left-back Gongora has been at the heart of everything good for his side, even though his poor defensive header gave Madrid their goal. Gongora's had two shots and has caused Madrid issues with his set-piece delivery. Can Unionistas grab an unlikely equaliser in the second half?

Madrid's job is half-done, but only half-done. Unionistas have proven to be plucky opponents in the opening 45 minutes. They're clearly not at Madrid's standard, but then Madrid have hardly been at their usual level here either. They still lead 1-0 at the break thanks to Bale's goal.

45' HALF-TIME: UNIONISTAS 0-1 REAL MADRID

44' Gongora makes a vital clearance as the ball comes loose in Unionistas' box from Vinicius' cross. James was lurking right behind him.

43' Gongora's effort from outside the box is blocked. Unionistas are understandably shooting whenever they get the chance. Madrid clear the follow-up cross.

42' Marcelo shoots as he approaches the left side of the box but it's too high. Madrid aren't at the top of their game yet but are still leading comfortably.

40' Unionistas counter down the right and get a corner as Carvajal heads the ball out with De La Nava lurking. Unionistas take the corner short - Garrido cuts inside and aims for the top far corner but gets his shot horribly wrong. Madrid goal-kick.

38' Unionistas have been under more pressure in recent minutes but have no need to panic yet. There's still plenty of time to go.

36' James hits the bar! Casemiro sends the Colombian into the box and he goes for goal from a tight angle. It thuds back into play off the crossbar.

34' Bale does a stepover into Unionistas' box and fizzes in a low cross that's cleared. Madrid come forward again and Benzema lashes a shot into the side netting.

33' The offside flag goes up again, this time against Benzema. Madrid are looking to get the ball forward to their front three as quickly as possible as soon as they get possession.

32' Madrid have had 64 per cent possession so far but they've only had three shots to Unionistas' two. The visitors are in charge of the game but by no means dominant.

30' Gongora's free-kick causes some confusion in the Madrid box as Andres has a shot blocked. Madrid clear in an attempt to counter but it lands straight with Pereiro on the opposite side of the pitch.

29' Valverde brings down Garrido as the Unionistas midfielder skips past him down the left. That'll be a Unionistas free-kick.

28' Benzema finds himself with the ball in Unionistas' box and Unionistas quickly scramble it away. The home side are behind but are just about managing to hold their own.

27' Gongora is in space down the left. The left-back checks inside onto his right foot and dinks a cross into the box but it bounces harmlessly out of play. He puts his hands up to say sorry to his team-mates.

26' Unionistas are playing a 4-4-2 rather than a 3-5-2 as had been expected. They're by no means sitting back despite the quality of their opponents. It's refreshing to see.

24' Vinicius gets on the ball and teases Piojo. The winger passes back to Marcelo who finds Benzema in the box but his shot is straight at Pereiro. Vinicius has handballed anyway.

23' Marcelo chests a pass down and takes it on the run to the left of Unionistas' box. The Brazilian's pass back inside is poor though and Unionistas try to counter. Nacho is there to put a stop to it.

21' Unionistas are getting into this game now. Navas' shot from outside the box deflects off Nacho and out for a corner. It doesn't worry Madrid, but it's a positive sign for the home side.

19' Chance for Unionistas! Gongora lets rip with a sweving shot from range and Areola dives to his right to make a great save. The corner comes in and Madrid eventually get it away.

G. Bale

Goal

18' GOAL! 1-0 MADRID! That didn't take long at all. Marcelo fires a dangerous cross in from deep and Gongora is back to head it off the line. However, it only gets as far as Bale who takes a touch in the box and bobbles it into the net at the near post. Bale modestly celebrates with his team-mates.

17' Areola gets into a spot of trouble and boots it out for a throw. Unionistas take it quickly and Garrido takes on Carvajal. The Madrid right-back shepherds the ball out for a goal-kick.

16' Bale and James stand over the free-kick. James takes it left-footed but it's straight into the wall and Pereiro comes across to claim the rebound.

15' Benzema's pass inside for Casemiro is a little lax and Casemiro is forced to pick up the pieces. The midfielder skilfully beats his man and wins a free-kick in a centre-right position for Madrid.

13' Vinicius has a pop at goal from outside the box and wins Madrid's first corner of the game. They take it short to Carvajal whose cross is headed out. Vinicius' follow-up ball in is also cleared.

12' James looks to get Vinicius through on goal but the Brazilian faces the wrath of the offside flag. Madrid are spending most of their time in Unionistas' half.

10' Bale drifts inside from the right and thinks about taking a shot but Unionistas intercept. Casemiro quickly wins the ball back but can only put it out of play for a Unionistas goal-kick.

8' De la Nava is left clutching his head after a clash between Madrid's two centre-backs over a loose ball. It's just a knock though and the Unionistas striker looks fine to carry on.

7' Casemiro latches onto Pereiro's punt from the back and sets Madrid off again in midfield. The away side are playing like a side who know they're better - which they are.

5' Marcelo plays a throughball over the top for Benzema to chase but Madrid's French striker is offside.

3' The two sides feel their way into the game with Madrid predictably taking the lead in possession. Unionistas go on a run upfield and Navas knocks the ball out for a Madrid goal-kick, right before Militao clatters into him.

1' Unionistas get this Copa del Rey round of 32 match underway!

The two sides are out on the Estadio Helmantico pitch. Unionistas will wear their distinctive black and white kit, while Madrid will play in their mint green away kit.

This is without question the biggest game in Unionistas' short existence so far - the club only formed in 2013. In stark contrast, Madrid have won the Copa del Rey 19 times in their history. Will this be a routine game for Madrid, or is a historic upset on the cards?

Javier Luaces makes four changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Deportivo last time out in the Copa, switching to a 3-5-2 formation. There are seven changes to the Madrid side that beat Sevilla 2-1 in La Liga a few days ago. Bale, Benzema and Vinicius all start.

SUBS: Raphael Varane, Thibaut Courtois, Brahim Diaz, Ferland Mendy, Lucas Vazquez, Luka Jovic, Isco.

REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Alphonse Areola; Daniel Carvajal, Nacho, Eder Militao, Marcelo (c); Federico Valverde, Casemiro, James Rodriguez; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.

SUBS: Javi Hernandez, Alvaro Romero, Alvaro Santos, Matthieu Amouzou, Pedro Lopez, Cristian Portilla, Diego Gonzalez.

UNIONISTAS (3-5-2): Brais Pereiro; Juan Gongora, Ayoze Placeres, Inigo Zubiri; Piojo, Ivan Garrido, Jose Angel, Javi Navas, David Gallego; Guille Andres, Carlos de la Nava.

Make no mistake, anything less than a win from this game would be disastrous for Zinedine Zidane's side. Madrid still have to get the job done here though as they focus on their tussle with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Unionistas have done very well to get to this stage of the Copa del Rey. The third division side from Salamanca have successfully navigated two rounds of the cup already to get here, beating Deportivo La Coruna on penalties in the second round. Their reward is a match against Madrid.

Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of this Copa del Rey round of 32 match between Unionistas and Real Madrid at Anexo Estadio Helmantico, Salamanca.

Unionistas de Salamanca v Real Madrid Live Commentary, 1/22/20

Key Events

Match Stats

Commentary