Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior’s further time targets had been sufficient for Real Madrid fend off a ten man Atletico Madrid of their Copa del Rey quarter-final conflict.
Atleti had taken an early lead by way of Alvaro Morata earlier than targets from Rodrygo within the remaining 10 minutes took the sport to further time, after which Benzema’s 104th minute objective and Vinicius’ 121st minute objective sealed the win.
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After a midfield battle that lasted a strong 18 minutes, Atletico Madrid discovered a manner into the ultimate third and into the lead due to Morata. Some poor defending from Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga – each of whom had been ball-watching – within the left-back space allowed Koke to clip the ball by way of to an unmarked Nahuel Molina who was capable of move the ball throughout objective to the toes of Morata, who subsequently tapped residence.
Eder Militao actually ought to have drawn his facet degree 10 minutes later when introduced with a possibility to go the house ball into an empty internet from about two yards…which he wasn’t capable of take. A vicious set piece supply from the proper courtesy of Toni Kroos gifted Militao this opportunity, however after Jan Oblak flapped on the ball the Brazilian might solely head over the crossbar.
Los Blancos started to push ahead with rather more conviction within the second half, with a Nacho Fernandez low, drilled, cross into the field nearly being bundled in by Karim Benzema. The French ahead then pressured Oblak into his first save of the sport shortly after, seeing his well-struck effort from the sting of the field saved by the Atleti primary.
At the opposite finish of the pitch, Courtois was pressured into his first actual motion of the sport (bar selecting the ball out of his internet) within the 72nd minute by an Antoine Griezmann free-kick. Griezmann struck properly, however Courtois was equal to it and palmed the ball over the crossbar.
Real Madrid would lastly discover a breakthrough within the 79th minute by way of a second of magic from Rodrygo. The substitute brilliantly jinked previous three gamers on his manner into the penalty space, earlier than side-footing previous Oblak. A second of great high quality from the teen to say the very least.
Before the ultimate whistle, Griezmann would spurn an excellent likelihood to win the sport for his facet. After just a few fortunate ricochets on the sting of the field the ball spurted into the trail of Griezmann within the penalty space. Despite having time to take a contact and decide his spot nonetheless, the French ahead ballooned his effort properly over the crossbar.
The residence facet would take an actual stranglehold on the sport in further time, not often permitting Atleti any time on the ball exterior of their very own defensive third. That stress would lead in Stefan Savic receiving a second yellow card for a moderately clumsy sliding deal with on Camavinga.
Moments after happening to 10 males, Diego Simeone’s facet nearly went a objective down too. This time it was Antonio Rudiger who’d fluff his traces, heading huge of the submit when fully unmarked within the Atletico field.
In the 102nd minute, Real Madrid would take the lead. The objective would come from Ballon d’Or holder Benzema, who sweep residence from the left hand facet of the penalty space.
Vincius Junior would then seal the win with a 121st minute objective, side-footing previous Oblak after ghosting previous just a few Atleti gamers.
GK – Thibaut Courtois – 5/10 – He made one save? Didn’t a lot to do apart from decide the ball out of his internet.
RB – Nacho Fernandez – 6/10 – Got up and down properly all night.
CB – Antonio Rudiger – 5/10 – An okay efficiency. Missed an amazing likelihood in further time.
CB – Eder Militao – 4/10 – Missed an empty internet from two yards out.
LB – Ferland Mendy – 3/10 – Nowhere to be seen when Molina popped up with the ball unmarked on the proper of Real Madrid’s penalty space within the lead as much as the opener. He then went off injured within the forty third minute.
CM – Luka Modric – 6/10 – Struggled within the first half however wrestled again management of the midfield within the second.
CM – Eduardo Camavinga – 6/10 – Fell asleep within the lead as much as the primary objective. Looked significantly better when shifted to left-back.
CM – Toni Kroos – 4/10 – Lacked the legs to compete with Atleti’s midfield.
RW – Federico Valverde – 3/10 – A surprisingly meh efficiency from Valverde. He did not actually do something.
ST – Karim Benzema – 8/10 – Came up huge for Real Madrid once more along with his further time objective.
LW – Vinicius Junior – 8/10 – Got his objective and was usually good all night.
SUB – Dani Ceballos – 6/10 – Tidy in possession and added some much-needed legs within the Madrid midfield.
SUB – Rodrygo – 8/10 – Scored top-of-the-line targets you may see all season. Brilliant stuff.
SUB – Marco Asensio – 7/10 – Much higher than Valverde on the proper of Madrid’s attacking three.
SUB – Mario Martin – N/A.
SUB – Alvaro Odriozola – N/A.
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