MADRID: A stunning last-minute strike by substitute Alex Berenguer handed Athletic Bilbao a shock 1-0 win over Real Madrid, eliminating them from the Copa del Rey in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Bilbao, who knocked out Barcelona in the previous round, ended a run of three successive defeats by Real in all competitions over the last two months thanks to Berenguer’s last-gasp goal.

The home team dominated the game from start and piled on the pressure on Real until they finally broke the deadlock in the 89th minute, with Berenguer firing into the right corner of the net. Bilbao joined Valencia, Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis in the semi-finals being played over two legs.

Real were clearly hampered by the absence Karim Benzema, who is still recovering from a leg muscle injury, and a below par performance from Vinicius Jr.

The 21-year-old forward appea­red to be jetlagged after returning from international duty from Brazil earlier in the week. Rodrygo had similarly been included just days after playing in South America.

We had the game under control and we could have had an opportunity to win in extra-time but they managed to score late and they deserved the win,” coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.

When asked why he opted to play Vinicius and Rodrygo instead of Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard, who have both fallen out of favour with the coach and stayed behind in Madrid, Ancelotti said:“Other players also didn’t play. Why you don’t ask about them too? “I’m not punishing anyone. They all have to compete to play.”

There was no such drama for Betis, who cruised through after thrashing Real Sociedad 4-0 to continue their superb season under Manuel Pellegrini.

Betis sit third in La Liga, 10 points from leaders Real and six points from second-place Sevilla, and on this form they will take some stopping in the cup. They have not reached the Copa del Rey final since they last won the competition in 2005.

Juanmi, who joined Betis from Sociedad in 2019, scored twice against his former club but his opener owed much to some brilliant work by William Carvalho, who burst through and then cut back for his team-mate to slot into the corner.

Adnan Januzaj had an equaliser for La Real ruled out before half-time and shortly after it, Juanmi struck again, firing in with his left foot after Alex Moreno raced onto an excellent pass from Sergio Canales.

Betis made it more emphatic in the last seven minutes as Willian Jose converted a penalty and then Aitor Rubial, on off the bench, sprinted clear and smashed in to make it four.

On Wednesday, 2019 champions Valencia reached their second Copa semi-final in four years by defeating Cadiz 2-1, while Rayo made the last four for the first time in four decades by beating Mallorca 1-0.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2022