MADRID: Holders Real Betis crashed out of the Copa del Rey in the last 16 on Wednesday after losing 4-2 on penalties to Osasuna despite twice leading in a tie that finished 2-2 after extra time while Atletico Madrid moved into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win at second division Levante.
Portugal midfielder William Carvalho put Betis ahead at home just past the hour but Osasuna forced an additional 30 minutes when David Garcia equalised in stoppage time.
Betis went back in front through Youssouf Sabaly but Ruben Garcia levelled before Sergio Canales and Guido Rodriguez both missed for Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the shootout.
An Alvaro Morata strike early in the second half and a goal on the counter in added time by Marcos Llorente gave Atletico victory over Levante in their last-16 clash.It took 54 minutes for Atletico to break the deadlock when substitute Angel Correa sprinted up-front and saw his team-mate Marcos Llorente ghost into empty space in the right channel and delivered a ball through.
Llorente got into the area before putting it on a plate for Morata, who was waiting at the far post to tap into the empty net.
Llorente secured Atletico’s spot in the quarter-finals in the 91st minute on a quick counter, receiving a long ball from fullback Nahuel Molina in space and finishing with a precise shot to the goalkeeper’s right.
Earlier on Wednesday, Valencia beat Sporting Gijon 4-0 and Athletic Bilbao beat Espanyol 1-0 also to advance to the quarter-finals. Real Sociedad and Sevilla were already through after wins on Tuesday.
Real Madrid will face Villarreal and Barcelona will travel to Ceuta to round off the last 16 on Thursday.
Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2023
