MADRID – Real Madrid, cushioned by an 8-0 first leg lead, secured their place in the Spanish Cup quarter-finals on Thursday despite a 2-0 defeat in the return match at Levante.
Levante’s two second-half goals by Xisco Nadal and Sergio Gonzalez were not enough to overturn Real’s huge advantage secured over the Valencia-based side last month and the Spanish giants pushed through 8-2 on aggregate. Last season’s runners-up Atletico Madrid, who took a 1-0 lead to Espanyol, made it through to the last eight after clinching a 1-1 draw to wrap up a 2-1 aggregate win.
Betis ended the hopes of top-flight Getafe with a 3-1 win that overturned the Madrid’s club’s 2-1 advantage from last month’s first leg. The Seville-based side are now the only lower-tier club left in the competition.
Centre forward Jorge Molina sprinted through and struck the ball past Getafe keeper Oscar Ustari in the 56th minute to open the scoring for Betis. Betis striker Ruben Castrol netted twice more and Getafe substitute Francisco Casquero scored his side’s only goal, allowing the Seville-based team to advance 4-3 on aggregate.
“As a first division side we have had the tendency to relax. We only reacted when we went 2-0 down. They were much better than us. We have been humbled,” said Getafe coach Michel Gonzalez. Almeria scored four first-half goals in a 4-3 win at Mallorca to advance 8-6 on aggregate while Villarreal made it to the quarter-finals after defeating Valencia 4-2 following their goalless draw last month.
Barcelona secured their place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday as French international defender Eric Abidal scored his first goal for the club in their 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona, held 0-0 at home in the first leg, went through on away goals.
Defending Spanish Cup champions Sevilla and Deportivo La Coruna also went through. Sevilla beat Malaga 3-0 for an 8-3 aggregate while Deportivo La Coruna saw off second division Cordoba 3-1 for a 4-2 aggregate win.
