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Real Madrid Advance To Copa Del Rey Quarters, Extend Unbeaten Run To 40

Sevilla and Real Madrid drew 3-3 in their Copa del Rey round of 16 second leg match, extending Real’s unbeaten run to 40 games, and Los Blancos advanced to the quarterfinals, 6-3 on aggregate. Karim Benzema scored with the final touch of the match to continue Madrid's remarkable streak. 

With Real Madrid holding a commanding 3-0 lead after the first leg at the Bernabeu, Zinedine Zidane elected to rest Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric with one eye on this weekend’s meeting between the two clubs in La Liga action. Karim Benzema also started on the bench while James Rodriguez wasn’t in the squad due to a minor injury.

If Sevilla had any chance of coming back in this tie, they needed an early goal. It arrived in the 10th minute after a dangerous cross from the right forced Danilo to glance a header into his own net. 

Sevilla spent the rest of the first half in search of their second, pressuring Real into uncharacteristic mistakes all over the pitch while landing five shots on target. Much to the annoyance of the highly animated Jorge Sampaoli, Sevilla couldn’t find the finishing touch needed to turn the second half into a nightmare for Los Blancos.

 

Three minutes after the restart, Real Madrid effectively sealed their place in the quarters after Marco Asensio collected the ball outside his own box and raced the length of the pitch, finishing beneath David Soria in the Sevilla net.

Real Madrid’s path to the quarters looked assured, but their attempt to go 40 games unbeaten was threatened when Stevan Jovetic gave Sevilla a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute.

Sevilla found a third goal in the 77th minute through Vicente Iborra, and hope was momentarily restored to the Andalusian side.

 

But Real Madrid once again responded through Sergio Ramos. The Real captain converted an outrageous Panenka penalty to make the score 3-2.

It looked as though Madrid's historic unbeaten streak was at an end, only for Benzema to score a spectacular equalizer in the third minute of stoppage time.

The Copa del Rey quarterfinals will take place over two legs on January 18 and 25. Alaves will take on the tournament’s only remaining Segunda Division side, Alcorcon. Barcelona come up against Real Sociedad in the marquee matchup of the round.

Real Madrid will play Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid matchup with Eibar.

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