Sevilla 3-3 Real Madrid: result, report, reaction
Karim Benzema took Madrid's unbeaten run to 40 games with the very last kick of the match in a Copa del Rey second-leg thriller against Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Zidane's side surpass Barcelona's 39-game undefeated streak and go into the hat for the quarter finals.
Substitute Karim Benzema scored with the very last kick of the game to extend his side's unbeaten run to 40 games, surpassing Barcelona's Spanish record in the process, as Real Madrid served out a six-goal thriller with Sevilla in the Copa del Rey.
Madrid were trailing 3-1 with just nine minutes of ordinary time remaining, only for Sergio Ramos to audaciously chip home a penalty kick before Benzema's dramatic late equaliser.
Sevilla had taken a deserved one goal lead into the break after Danilo's calamitous first-half own goal gave the Andalusians the early advantage. Madrid could have gone in trailing by even more if it wasn't for the on-form Kiko Casilla keeping the home team at bay time and again.
However Madrid struck back immediately in the second period when Marco Asensio ran almost the whole length of the pitch before slotting coolly under the legs of Soria. That goal only seemed to inspire Sevilla though, who were then left needing four more to go through owing to Los Blancos' hefty 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg.
They got their second just a few minutes later when Jovetic volleyed home, and later made things nervy for Zidane's men when firing in a third through Iborra on 77 minutes.
By that stage, Madrid's unbeaten run seemed certain to have come to an abrupt end. But if there's one thing we've learned about this team over the past few seasons, it is to never rule them out.
And so, when Ramos dinked home a penalty in the 83rd minute after a push on Casemiro, a Real Madrid comeback had an air of inevitably about it. Alas that proved to be case when Benzema jinked into the area in the third minute of stoppage time and saw his effort deflected past a helpless Soria.
With this result, Madrid now enter into Friday's draw for the Copa del Rey quarter finals, and their remarkable undefeated streak, which stretches back to April last year, lives to fight another day.
As it happened:
Full Time: Sevilla 3-3 Real Madrid
93 mins | Goooooooool Benzema! Unbelievable! Madrid save their record at the death. 40 games unbeaten! With the very last kick of the game! The Frenchman breaks into the box, taking it past three tired Sevilla defenders on route (bumbling over the last one) and his right-footed shot from 8 yards is deflected past Soria. You couldn't make it up. FULL TIME.
92 mins | Madrid have a corner....but they decide to play it short, rather unbelievably. Maybe this whole unbeaten run thing isn't so important...
90 mins | 3 mins of added time
87 mins | Yellow card Marcelo for a cynical foul on Sarabia
85 mins | Soria saves again from Jovetic's effort. The Madrid No.2 has had a great game. They can have him to thank if they do manage to salvage the record in these last few minutes...
84 mins | Yellow card Casemiro for his challenge on Vitolo
83 mins | Madrid have 7 minutes or so to save their unbeaten record. Who would bet against Ramos popping up with a stoppage time equaliser? I wouldn't.
81 mins | Penalty Madrid! And it's a goal! Ramos dispatches it with a...PANENKA! (again!). The spotkick was awarded for a push by Kranevitter on Casemiro.
77 mins | Gooooooool Iborra! Correa is played in down the right and cuts the ball back from the byline. Casilla gets down at his near post but can't keep hold of it and Iborra is there to jab it home. Madrid's unbeaten streak looks to be over...can they now hold on to stay in the cup?Sevilla still need two more...
75 mins | Madrid sub: Morata off. Benzema on.
73 mins | Yellow card Jovetic for a foul on Danilo
71 mins | Yellow card Casilla for time wasting at a goal kick. Seems the keeper is happy to sacrifice the team's unbeaten record to ensure passage into the quarters...
71 mins | Escudero's powerful shot narrowly fizzes wide!
69 mins | Danilo almost makes up for his own goal in the 1st half by very nearly forcing Sevilla into one of their own. His dangerous cross sees Rami throw a foot out with Morata lurking free in the centre. The defender's interception wrong foots Soria and bobbles millimetres wide.
66 mins | Oh that opened up for Morata there! He has to do better, but it doesn't seem his night tonight. It's his first real memorable act of the game, but his effort is scooped over when he should have hit the net.
64 mins | Ben Yedder! So close! Sarabria's cross is nodded down by the striker and it looks all the world to be heading for the corner. The ball bounces just before the foot of the post, skimming the paint on its way out. Another let off for Madrid.
63 mins | Madrid sub: Carvajal enters the fray as Vazquez exits the field of play.
62 mins | Yellow card: Now Kovacic goes into the book for trying to wrestle with Jovetic.
61 mins | Yellow card Iborra for a supposed elbow on Ramos. Looked nothing in it.
59 mins | Morata flagged up for offside. The Madrileño hasn't had his best of evenings. He's looked off the pace and out of the game...
56 mins | Madrid sub: Mariano makes way for Kovacic.
54 mins | Sevilla sub: Vietto goes off, Nasri comes on.
52 mins | Goooooooool Jovetic! The substitute volleys in from six-yards out after Escuerdo's pinpoint delivery. Sevilla hit straight back, and it's as you were at the break. What a start to the 2nd half!
48 mins | Gooooooooool Asensio! It's a wonder-run from the wonderkid! He picks up the ball deep in his own half, collecting Casilla's punch from a Sevilla corner, races down the left wing (a lá Gareth Bale), and no one can catch him. Vietto launches a desperate lunge to try and stop him but Asensio keeps his feet and coolly slots under the legs of Soria.
47 mins | In contrast to the first half, Madrid are the team quickest out of the blocks, winning a dangerous attacking free-kick. Kroos' delivery is dealt with and Sevilla go straight on the counter and get a corner up the other end.
46 mins | Peeeeeeep! And we're back underway.
Half time: Sevilla 1-0 Real Madrid
Madrid survived some relentless pressure in the opening 45 minutes there and go into the break just 1-0 down when it could have been worse. Will Sevilla pay for missed opportunities? They still need two goals to force the tie to extra-time, so expect more attacking intent from them in the 2nd half. The question for Madrid however is this: do they shut up shop, preserve their aggregate advantage, secure their passage to the quarters, but ultimately risk losing their unbeaten record? Or do they go for goals in an attempt to defend the record? That could end up with them getting further caught out at the back and losing the game anyway, not to mention risk elimination from the Cup...
45 mins | The whistle goes for half-time.
43 mins | Kroos just inches from bagging the equaliser after a neat one-two with Morata. The German's effort just swerved pat the post from the edge of the box.
42 mins | It's another poor offside decision form the linesman, this time against Real Madrid. Asensio looks to be flagged incorrectly, though it wouldn't have changed much as Marcelo's shot was put wide in the following play.
38 mins | Sevilla have done everything in their power this half to bring the game to Madrid and try claw their way back into the tie. The second goal eludes them so far though. Pegging another back before the break would really change the outlook of this game however...
34 mins | Chance for Ben Yedder that! He beats the offside trap but his touch is far too heavy and the ball rolls out of play. A bit more deftness there and he was in. Madrid looking more and more fragile at the back as this game goes on.
30 mins | Madrid look to release the pressure valve with an increasingly rare attack, but Kroos' effort from 25 yards sails harmlessly over.
28 mins | It's all Sevilla again now! It's wave after wave of attack and Vietto is the latest player to have a go. His shot is too close to Casilla though.
24 mins | Close! It's almost as calamitous as Danilo's own-goal opener but this time at the other end. Mariano chases through his own own tackle as he dispossesses a lackadaisical Lenglet in a dangerous position. It's a race with keeper Soria, who gets there first, but his clearance rebounds off the Mariano foot and flies just inches wide.
22 mins | Sevilla launch a counter attack and it finds its way to Yedder on the edge of the box. His initial shot is blocked by Nacho but the rebound falls straight into his path. He's just got Casilla to beat and...and...he's called back for offside! A rather dubious decision by the referee as replays show he was level.
19 mins | Madrid beginning to bring this back to Sevilla now as they try to find a way through via the sniping Kroos and Asensio. An entertaining match so far with both teams playing positively.
16 mins | A lovely turn and burn by Vazquez on Escuerdo sets him free down the right. Support arrives in the form of Danilo, and after receiving the ball from Vazquez, goes for a burst into the box. His touch is wild though and the counter is lost.
13 mins | Sevilla are really looking up for this and certainly haven't given up the ghost after the demoralising 3-0 first-leg defeat. Real Madrid look dazed and confused at the moment by all their opponent's attacking intent.
12 mins | Yellow card for Lucas Vazquez for a late challenge on Escuerdo.
9 mins | Gooooooool Sevilla! It's a calamitous own-goal from Danilo as the defender heads Sarabria's dangerous delivery past a helpless Casilla. Sevilla have the early goal they needed!
8 mins | Sevilla win a third corner in just eight minutes. The Andalusians are putting on the early pressure. They'll need an early goal you feel to stand any chance of hauling back the three goal aggregate deficit.
7 mins | Yellow card for Mercado for pulling back Kroos.
5 mins | A rather scrappy start to this game so far with both sides failing to keep hold of the ball. Just as I type however Sevilla begin to probe and win another corner. It's headed away.
3 mins | Despite the mild weather here in southern Spain, the pitch is very well watered indeed. Seems the groundsman went a bit mad with the sprinklers this afternoon.
1 mins | Sevilla win a corner after just 15 seconds, but the first delivery of the night into the Madrid box is cleared.
0 mins | Peeeeeeeep! And we're off.
Sevilla vs Real Madrid: starting lineups
Sevilla XI: David Soria, Mercado, Rami, Lenglet, Escudero, Kranevitter, Iborra, Correa, Sarabia, Vietto, Ben Yedder
Real Madrid XI: Casilla; Danilo; Ramos; Nacho; Marcelo; Casemiro; Kroos; Asensio; Lucas Vázquez; Morata; Mariano
Sevilla vs Real Madrid: latest news
21:10 | Just as the players prepare to enter the field. Here's a little reminder of Real Madrid's results in the last 39 games: WWWWWWDWWWWDWWW WWWDDDDWWWWWDWW WWWDDWWWWW. Good luck Sevilla!
21:05 | The two teams are starting to congregate in the tunnel, all steely-eyed and serious-faced.
21:00 | Tonight's referee is Alberto Undiano Mallenco. A little fact about him is that he was the only Spanish referee at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Thanks us later for that gem.
20:45 | Half an hour left to go. If you're following this from a cold and snowy UK, the closest you'll get to the balmy Andalusian climate tonight is by staying right where you are. If you have central heating, turn it up...it'll be almost as if you're actually at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Kind of.
20:30 | 45 minutes to kick off. The weather in Seville is a lovely and mild 15 degrees Celsius, clear skies and not a chance of rain. Perfect conditions for a game of footy you might say.
20:15 | Tonight's teams have been announced and there are no real surprises given we already knew Cristiano and Modric would be rested and that James and Isco were left out of the squad due to injury. There's chances then for front three Vázquez, Morata and Mariano to shine, while Casilla, Danilo and Asensio also come in for precious starts.
Sevilla, on the other hand, have gone for more of a first-choice side with the uphill task that's in front of them this evening.
20:00 | One of the major differences between Real Madrid and the rest in Spain this season has been their ability to find goals from all over the pitch. An incredible 12 Los Blancos players have scored four or more in the 2016/17 campaign so far...
19:05 | Talking of bets (see previous post): if you are that brave (possibly foolish) person who would back Sevilla to progress tonight with your hard earned cash, then you can get them at a price of around 11/4. Good luck...
18:50 | ICYMI: The MSN fired Barça into the Copa quarters last night (with the trio reaching a nice goal landmark in the process). Can Madrid follow their Clásico rivals into the last eight tonight? You'd be brave to bet against them given their comfortable aggregate advantage (3-0) and, of course, the small matter of a 39-match unbeaten run.
17:45 | There isn't only progression to the quarter-finals at stake for Real Madrid, of course: they can also beat Barcelona's Spanish-record unbeaten run.
16:35 | Samir Nasri has been speaking about Zinedine Zidane and his meteoric rise as a manager. The Sevilla player says he would love to work under Zidane, because that would mean he was playing at Real Madrid.
16:20 | Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has fond memories of cup ties in Sevilla: remember this stunning solo goal from five years back?
15:40 | Cristiano Ronaldo played no part in the first leg at the Bernabéu, and has - together with Luka Modric - been rested for tonight, too. Here's the lowdown on Real Madrid's squad to face Sevilla.
14:50 | Cristiano Ronaldo convinced James Rodriguez to turn down a move to Chelsea for €90 million.
14:20 | We're set to see two new Sevilla signings in action, with Stevan Jovetic and Clement Lenglet both in contention to feature. Here's the Andalusians' squad for this evening's clash.
13:45 | Zinedine Zidane remains coy on any talk of a treble-winning season. The Real Madrid manager says it's "still a long way off."
13:15 | Sevilla's form at home this season, and for a while now, has been spectacular. They have lost just once this season at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán and that was to Barcelona in a very close affair. Their last game there was a 4-1 victory over Málaga. Overturning a 3-0 deficit is a huge task; but Fortress Pizjuán gives them reason to believe...
11:50 | In need of all the info on how and where to watch this evening's Copa clash? Here's the lowdown.
11:05 | The plane taking the Real Madrid squad the 500-or-so kilometres south to Sevilla will have taken off from Barajas airprort. It's a short haul flight - about a hour, expected arrival, midday.
10:45 | A few more figures - Sevilla and Real Madrid have met 183 times in all competitions with Los Blancos winning 99 of those games, 55 Sevilla victories and 29 matches ending level. If Zidane's team wins tonight - Sevilla will become the fifth side who have they defeated at least :45 100 times, after Atlético, Athletic Club, Espanyol and Valencia.
09:33 | A few stats - in over 40 two-legged Cup ties, Madrid have always qualified with a 3-0 advantage or greater from the first leg. Sevilla meanwhile have never turned around a deficit of three goals or more.
09:08 | Good morning from Spain and after last night's impressive comeback from Barcelona (what do you mean you missed it? - read this then) Sevilla host Madrid with a steeper incline of an uphill task ahead of them.
Sevilla vs Real Madrid: match preview
Sevilla have reached no fewer than three Copa del Rey finals in the last ten years - winning two of them - but the Andalusians require little short of a miracle against Real Madrid on Thursday night if they're to keep alive their hopes of another appearance in the trophy decider.
Jorge Sampaoli's men host Los Blancos in the last-16 second leg trailing 3-0 from last Wednesday's opening clash, and will need a stark improvement on a considerably sub-par display at the Bernabéu in which two James Rodríguez goals, either side of a header from Raphael Varane, left a dominant Real with one foot in the quarter-finals.
Fresh from Saturday's 5-0 league stuffing of Granada and a successful FIFA gala, Madrid travel to Seville with not only progression to the last eight in their sights, but also a piece of history. By avoiding defeat, Zinedine Zidane's team will overtake Barcelona's Spanish-record unbeaten streak of 39 games.
Sevilla
The Europa League holders, who were incensed by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz's role in two of Real's goals last week, come into the return lifted by a weekend in LaLiga that saw them bounce back with a 4-0 away walloping of Real Sociedad - a result, coupled with Barcelona's draw at Villarreal, which left them second in the table.
New signings Stevan Jovetic and Clement Lenglet are both in the squad and in contention to feature, while Sampaoli offered an indication that - with Madrid in charge in the tie - he is prioritising the sides' league encounter on Sunday (their third meeting in 11 days): the Argentine has opted not to risk Steven N'Zonzi, Mariano Ferreira and Franco Vázquez, who all have niggles.
Real Madrid
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's superb goalscoring record against Sevilla - he has 22 in total against the outfit - Zidane has again chosen to rest the Portuguese star, who also sat out the first leg. Cristiano, who on Monday was crowned The Best FIFA Men's Player 2016, is joined by midfield maestro Luka Modric in being left out.
Zidane will also be without Isco and first-leg hero James, who have both picked up injuries, and Pepe's recovery from a calf strain continues. However, captain Sergio Ramos is back fit and, together with Lucas Vázquez and Mateo Kovacic, returns to the squad, while Castilla's Enzo Zidane, who made his first-team debut earlier in this season's Copa, has been handed a call-up.