Real Madrid booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Numancia at the Bernabeu.
Los Blancos entered the second leg of the last-16 tie with a 3-0 advantage, but it proved to be a tricky second match against the Segunda Division club as Guillermo Fernandez came off the bench to net twice.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
7.31pmEvening all! Sports Mole's Copa del Rey coverage continues from the Bernabeu as La Liga champions Real Madrid welcome Segunda Division side Numancia. Real Madrid recorded a 3-0 win when they travelled to Soria for the first leg of their last-16 clash last week, and should finish the job in front of their own supporters tonight. Stay tuned for live minute-by-minute updates!
7.34pmNumancia actually impressed for long stages of the first leg last week. Gareth Bale sent Real Madrid ahead in the 35th minute, but it took until the 89th minute for Isco to add a second. Borja Mayoral then made it 3-0 in stoppage time to effectively secure Real Madrid's spot in the quarter-finals.
7.37pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Real Madrid will enter the match off the back of a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo in the league on Sunday night, while Numancia drew 2-2 at Cultural Leonesa. Any changes? Let's run through the two XIs...
7.40pmTEAMS!
REAL: Casilla; Carvajal, Vallejo, Nacho, Theo; Llorente, Ceballos, Kovacic; Lucas, Mayoral, Asensio
NUM: Munir; Medina, Elgezabal, Calvo, Saul; Grego, Larrea; Nacho, Dani Nieto, Mateu; Higinio
7.43pmReal Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has made 10 changes from the team that started against Celta in the league at the weekend. Only Nacho keeps his spot, with the likes of Jesus Vallejo, Theo Hernandez, Marcos Llorente, Dani Ceballos and Borja Mayoral coming in. Kiko Casilla will start between the sticks, while Dani Carvajal features after being suspended at the weekend.
© Offside
7.46pmAs for the visitors, Senegalese midfielder Pape Diamanka misses out after picking up a red card in the first leg last week. As a result, Dani Nieto will switch from a wide position to number 10 in support lone forward Higinio Marin. Grego Sierra and Pablo Larrea will again start as the midfield two.
7.49pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in the capital. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with Real Madrid. As mentioned, Zidane's side will enter the match off the back of a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo.
7.52pm
👕👍 #RMCopa
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 10, 2018
¡Así luce nuestro vestuario de cara al partido de esta noche frente al @cdnumancia! pic.twitter.com/mvLKCZo2fH
7.55pmA double from Gareth Bale looked to be securing all three points for Real Madrid at Celta, but Maxi Lopez came up with a late leveller for the hosts, who also missed a penalty in the second period. The draw means that Real Madrid are now 16 points behind league leaders Barcelona with only one game in hand. In all honesty, the title race in Spain is done this season. Done and dusted.
7.58pmReal Madrid are also seven points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid in La Liga, and they will be under massive pressure to beat Villarreal at home on Saturday afternoon. There is something missing from the Spanish champions this season, but they are still very much alive in the Champions League, and have the small matter of a last-16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain to come.
8.02pmReal Madrid are 19-time winners of the Copa del Rey, but they have not actually lifted this trophy since 2014. This competition becomes more important when considering Barcelona's lead in La Liga. A trophyless season is a real possibility for Zidane, and that would spell big trouble for the Frenchman.
8.05pm
📝🏃 #RMCopa
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 10, 2018
¡Nuestro once inicial para el partido de Copa frente al @sdnumancia! #RMMovistar | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/z5I8gKAz7w
8.08pmAs for Numancia, the Reds will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Cultura Leonesa at the weekend. That result left them in fourth position in the Segunda Division – just three points off second-placed Cadiz. They have won 10 of their 21 league fixtures this season, and lost just five times.
8.12pmNumancia have had four seasons in La Liga, with their last appearance in the top flight occurring in the 2008-09 campaign. They actually won 10 of their 38 league matches during that particular season, but were still relegated in 19th position alongside Real Betis and Recreativo.
8.15pmThis season also represents their best showing in the Copa del Rey since reaching the quarter-finals of the 2004-05 competition. They are going to exit the cup tonight bar an incredible turnaround, but are well placed to challenge for a spot in the top division once again.
8.18pm
El @cdnumancia ha llegado al #SantiagoBernabéu y ya pisa el césped #VamosNumancia #RealMadridNumancia pic.twitter.com/JORn662qn6
— cdnumancia (@cdnumancia) January 10, 2018
8.22pmFar from a full house inside the Bernabeu tonight, but there is a decent atmosphere, and the home fans will be looking for a number of fringe players to make their mark. Let's hope for a good match!
8.25pmHere we go then - both sets of players are in the tunnel ahead of kickoff in the Spanish capital. Will Real Madrid comfortably advance to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, or can Numancia make things uncomfortable for the Spanish champions? Kickoff at the Bernabeu is next; Stay tuned!
0 minKICKOFF! Real Madrid kick things off at the Bernabeu...
2 min... only Carvajal is present from what would be Real Madrid's starting XI, and that means a number of fringe players have the chance to impress tonight. As expected, the hosts have taken control of the possession in the early moments. The supporters behind Casilla's goal are providing a great atmosphere.
4 minNieto races through for the visitors after a mistake from Llorente in the middle of the park, but Vallejo is across to make the challenge. Numancia are just starting to see more of the ball as Nieto strikes into bodies just outside the home side's penalty box. Decent tempo to this match.
6 minReal Madrid are the team in control of the possession, but the home side have not really put together a serious attack in the first six minutes of this match. Numancia have started quite well.
8 minIt all seems to be very frantic when Real Madrid have the ball in the away side's half of the field. It is like a hot potato as Los Blancos are forced to build from a deep position once again. Still 0-0.
10 minHalf-chance for the home side as Asensio works some space before drilling the ball towards the bottom corner, but his effort was always wide of the post. That is the closest either side has come.
10 minGOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Numancia (Lucas)
11 minReal Madrid make the breakthrough in the 10th minute as Lucas Vazquez rises inside the Numancia box to head a Carvajal cross into the bottom corner. Not sure about the defending there!
13 minNumancia knocked the ball around quite well in the early stages, but they completely left Lucas for the goal. That is the difference between La Liga teams and ones from the Segunda.
14 minGarcia is fortunate to escape a booking for hacking Asensio to the deck. Numancia look like conceding every time that the home side break forward. Real Madrid are threatening a second.
16 minNumancia have plenty of attacking players on the field tonight, and they have not been afraid to commit men forward in the first 16 minutes of this match. The problem, however, is that they are very open down the other end of the field. Asensio has been the standout player for the hosts thus far.
18 minBOOKING! Sierra (Numancia) is booked for a foul on Lucas.
20 minJust a reminder that Real Madrid will return to league action with a home game against Villarreal on Saturday afternoon. It is vital that Los Blancos win that match. Back to tonight, and Zidane's side are forcing the issue as they search for a second. Numancia are very deep at the moment.
21 minIt appears that Numancia forward Higinio might have pulled his hamstring here.
22 minHiginio is back, and plays on for now. He is not moving too well, though.
23 minLlorente is not too pleased with the referee or indeed Sierra, who has just headed the top of the Real Madrid midfielder's head. Sierra needs to be careful here having already been booked.
25 minReal Madrid continue to pass and probe in the final third as they look for a second goal. Eventually Mayoral has a strike from distance, but his effort was never troubling Munir between the sticks.
27 minNumancia just cannot seem to get hold of the ball at the moment as Real Madrid continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. This kind of work is tough on the legs; that is for sure.
29 minVery, very scrappy at the moment as the referee is forced to intervene following a number of late challenges. The Real Madrid fans behind Casilla's goal are still belting out the songs, though.
32 minPlenty of slick football from Real Madrid, but not too much else. Asensio and Mayoral have both struck over the crossbar, but aside from that - and of course the goal - chances have been few and far between. Numancia are yet to cause Real Madrid any problems in the final third of the field.
33 minHalf-chance for the away side as Garcia delivers towards Higinio, but Nacho does enough to clear behind. Finally some signs of life from Numancia as we approach the half-time break.
35 minJust a reminder that Real Madrid are currently 4-0 ahead on aggregate. It is almost like a training exercise for the Spanish champions now as a number of fringe players look to impress.
37 minThe Real Madrid fans behind Casilla's goal continue to create a brilliant atmosphere inside the stadium. It is a shame that the match has not lived up to the support! Real Madrid have been decent without really impressing in the first 37 minutes. It has all been very routine here.
39 minThe little flicks and tricks are just not coming off for the home team. Mayoral and Asensio exchange passes inside the Numancia box, but Calvo is on hand to clear down field once again.
41 minNumancia goalkeeper Munir has had a very quiet 42 minutes between the sticks it must be said. He has hardly had anything to do aside from pick the ball out of the back of his net. The visitors again have a concern over their number nine, who has pulled up for the second time in this match.
42 minNUMANCIA SUB! Higinio is indeed replaced by Guillermo.
44 minNot too much to report in the last couple of minutes, with both teams exchanging possession in the middle of the park. To be honest, it has been a pretty poor half of football. Not much has happened.
45 minGOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Numancia (Guillermo)
45+1 minOh my word! The away side incredibly level the scores here as Mateu delivers a wonderful low cross towards the far post, where Guillermo is on hand to tap home from close range!
45+2 minHALF-TIME: Real Madrid 1-1 Numancia (Real lead 4-1 on aggregate)
9.16pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. Lucas sent Real Madrid ahead in the 11th minute, but Numancia levelled moments ago through Guillermo. Not the best 45 minutes of football from Real Madrid once again it must be said.
9.21pmSTATISTICS! Real Madrid dominated the first-half possession with 71%, while they had seven attempts - four of which were on target. Numancia, meanwhile, hit the target with just one of their four attempts, but it found the back of the net. One booking to report - Sierra in the 18th minute.
9.26pmBENCH WATCH! Numancia were forced into a change late in the first period as Guillermo replaced the injured Higinio. However, the sub proved to be inspired as the number 24 scored the away side's equaliser. Real Madrid have the likes of Isco, Casemiro and Kroos on their bench tonight.
46 minRESTART! Numancia resume the action here...
47 min... REAL MADRID SUB! Achraf has replaced Carvajal for the home side.
49 minReal Madrid are very much on the front foot in the early stages of the second period, with Asensio seeing plenty of the ball in a wide area. Mayoral has not really had a sniff for the hosts, though.
50 minHalf-chance for the away side as Mateu finds space outside the Real Madrid box, but his effort was always too high. Down the other end, Calvo managed to clear a dangerous cross ahead of Mayoral.
51 minComfortable save for Munir, who gets down to keep out a strike from Ceballos.
53 minThe referee is having a very interesting game as he continues to allow a number of late challenges to go unpunished. Nacho has just been chopped to the ground in a wide area, but the Spanish official was not interested. The home side are the team on the front foot with 53 minutes on the clock.
55 minPass, pass, pass from Real Madrid as they look to move Numancia from side to side. The visitors, however, are keeping their shape well. Calvo is again on hand to clear a Theo cross from the left.
56 minCLOSE! Nacho just misses the Numancia goal with an effort from inside the box!
58 minNumancia are struggling to keep the ball at the moment, which is inviting Real Madrid forward. Still 1-1 on the night and 4-1 Real Madrid on aggregate. What a result this would be for the visitors.
59 minAnother half-chance for the home side as Achraf delivers a low cross towards Mayoral, but Larrea is on hand to make the clearance. Little over 30 minutes of the second period to play here.
59 minGOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Numancia (Lucas)
60 minReal Madrid double their lead in the 59th minute as Lucas flicks home from close range after meeting a header from Mayoral. In truth, it was coming. Numancia are behind once again.
62 minNumancia have played very well up until this point, but you get the feeling that the final 30 minutes or so will be very difficult. Real Madrid are having all of the ball in the final third of the field.
63 minREAL MADRID SUB! Isco replaces Asensio for the home side.
66 minAll Real Madrid as the hosts continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. Kovacic attempts to find Isco with a flick inside the Numancia box, but Calvo is on hand to clear his lines.
67 minNUMANCIA SUB! Mateu is replaced by Milla for the away side.
70 minNieto makes ground down the left for the away side before looking to pick out a teammate, but Nacho is on hand to make the clearance. Still 2-1 to Real Madrid on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
72 minNUMANCIA SUB! Medina is replaced by Etxeberria.
74 minSAVE! Super chance for the away side to level as Nieto breaks into the Real Madrid box, but the number 23 cannot find a route past Casilla. Really should have scored there!
76 minNumancia have made all three of their permitted changes, but Real Madrid have one remaining. Possession football from the home side at the moment as they pass and probe in the final third.
78 minCHANCE! Mayoral races into the Numancia box, but his low effort is wide!
78 minREAL MADRID SUB! Casemiro replaces Mayoral for the home side.
81 minDecent spell from the away side in the last couple of minutes as they keep the pressure on following a set piece. Nieto strikes from distance, but Casilla is on hand to make the save.
82 minGOAL! Real Madrid 2-2 Numancia (Guillermo)
83 minOh my word! Numancia level the scores in the 82nd minute as Guillermo heads a super Garcia cross into the far corner of the net! He has come off the bench to score twice in this match!
85 minLittle over five minutes of football remaining, and we are locked at 2-2 on the night. That said, Real Madrid are still 5-2 ahead on aggregate. It has been some response from the visitors.
85 minBOOKING! Calvo (Numancia) is booked for a foul on Ceballos.
88 minThe Numancia supporters are having a wonderful time in the stands, and why not? The visitors are the team pressing forward at the moment as look to secure what would be an incredible win - on the night at least. Guillermo has had some impact since coming off the bench here.
90+1 minWe are into the first minute of stoppage time at the end of this second leg.
90+2 minReal Madrid have the ball in their own half of the field as we close on the full-time whistle.
90+3 minRED CARD! Calvo is sent off for the visitors for pulling Isco's shirt!
90+4 minFULL-TIME: Real Madrid 2-2 Numancia (Real Madrid win 5-2 on aggregate)
10.20pmSo there we have it. Real Madrid draw 2-2 on the night, but they have booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 5-2 aggregate success. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
