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REAL MADRID

Real Madrid and Atlético into last 16 of King’s Cup

Real Madrid reached the last 16 of the Copa del Rey — the equivalent of the English FA Cup — with a 2-0 win over Olimpic Xativa on Wednesday. City rivals Atlético de Madrid followed suit with a 2-1 victory over Sant Andreu.

Real Madrid and Atlético into last 16 of King's Cup
Photo: Dani Pozo & Pierre Philippe Marcou/AFP

Without the injured Gareth Bale and suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti gave a number of his younger players another chance to impress despite being held to a 0-0 draw in the first-leg 10 days ago.

The Italian was rewarded as Asier Illaramendi slotted home his first goal for the club before Angel di Maria's penalty made it 2-0 at the break.

Madrid failed to add to their tally in the second-half, but were never threatened by their third-tier opponents as they eased into the next round where they will face Osasuna.

"I think we started the game well, but we slowed down when we were 2-0 up. Our rhythm dropped too much in the second-half and I didn't like it," said Ancelotti.

And the former Chelsea boss stressed that the likes of Jese Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata need to make the most of their opportunities in the absence of Ronaldo and Bale.

"It wasn't easy to prepare for the game because we changed the team a lot. Some players that haven't played a lot need more minutes to reach optimal condition.

"In general the young players need work because playing for Real Madrid is not easy. They need to be ready because this season we will need everyone, they need to be concentrated so that when the opportunity arrives, they take it."

Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, were forced to come from behind to beat minnows Sant Andreu 2-1 on the night at the Vicente Calderon to progress into the last 16, 6-1 on aggregate.

Alberto Carroza had fired the visitors into a shock lead as Atletico conceded for the first time at home since early October.

Atlético then passed up a host of chances to level before the break as Jose Gimenez had a goal harshly ruled out for offside, while Adrian Lopez blasted a penalty over the bar.

With such an advantage from the first-leg, Atlético boss Diego Simeone had handed a night off to the majority of his first-team regulars and had to turn to 18-year-old Hector Hernandez in his search for an equaliser.

The young forward duly delivered when he turned home Adrian's cross 12 minutes from time.

Sant Andreu looked like they may still hold out for a famous draw, but they were cruelly denied with the last action of the game as Toby Alderweireld headed home Gabi's free-kick deep into stoppage time.

Atletico will now face Valencia or Gimnastic in the next round.

Meanwhile, La Liga leaders Barcelona comfortably secured their place in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win over third-tier Cartagena on Tuesday, to seal a 7-1 win on aggregate.

Racing Santander produced the surprise of the evening as they overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 2-0 win away to 10-man Sevilla.

David Miguelez pulled the visitors level in the tie from the penalty spot after Stephane M'bia had been sent-off for hauling down Mariano Sainz inside the area.

Mahamadou Kone then sealed the comeback in stoppage time when he fired home from close range.

Real Sociedad set up a meeting with Villarreal in the last 16 with a convincing 4-0 win over Algeciras thanks to goals from Javi Ros, Haris Seferovic, Antoine Griezmann and Carlos Vela to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory.

La Liga sides Almeria and Real Betis also progressed despite being held at home on the night by lower league Las Palmas and Lleida respectively.

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FOOTBALL

Thousands of Atletico fans flock to Madrid’s Neptune fountain to cheer league victory

Thousands of Atletico Madrid fans defied the authorities by taking to the streets of the Spanish capital to celebrate on Saturday night after victory over Real Valladolid secured their team an 11th league title.

Thousands of Atletico fans flock to Madrid's Neptune fountain to cheer league victory
Spanish policemen stand guard around Atletico Madrid´s supporters outside the Jose Zorilla stadium in Valladolid. Photo: Cesar Manso/AFP

As soon as the full-time whistle blew in Valladolid to confirm a 2-1 win, Atleti supporters flocked to the Neptune fountain in the centre of Madrid, in
line with tradition but defying Covid-19 rules regarding the wearing of masks and social distancing.

“I was confident Atletico would win. It was like a final and being against Valladolid, I knew we were going to win,” Federico Gonzalez, 46, and among the crowds, told AFP.

A large police presence surrounded the fountain, with several vans also present to prevent people from approaching the fountain, which had been lit up in Atletico’s red and white colours.

Fans waved flags and scarves while others set off flares as darkness fell, the celebrations going on into the night after Atletico’s second La Liga title in seven years.

“It is a joy. From the beginning of the game I was overcome with nerves because Atleti plays each game in its own way and you just never know”, said Carlota Maestro, 20, who came to the city centre with three friends.

Amid shouts of “Atleti, Atleti” and “Campeones”, the rojiblancos fans danced, jumped and hugged each other. Cars and motorbikes drove by honking
their horns, some with red and white flags poking out of the windows.

The Covid-19 pandemic has meant Atletico’s fans have not been allowed to attend matches this season and their celebrations defied the recommendations of the authorities.

Fans ignored rules on social distancing and many were not wearing masks. “Please, I ask the Atletico fans not to go to Neptune,” wrote the mayor of
Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, himself an Atletico supporter, on Twitter. “I am the first to understand the desire to celebrate but this is not the time.”

“It is a strange celebration, because we have not been able to do it like normal, on the field, surrounded by other fans,” said Pablo Diaz, a 22-year-old fan. “We celebrate it but with a little fear, being careful, and wearing a mask.”

Hundreds of other fans had accompanied the team to Valladolid, where they watched the game on their phones in the car park outside the stadium.

After the match, Atletico’s ran out of the stadium to celebrate with the supporters they had not seen all season.

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