An intense game on Thursday night to round off the first leg ties, Athletic Bilbao beating Barcelona 2-1 to set up a mouth-watering second leg in the Nou Camp. Aduríz headed the locals in front from a Raúl García cross midway through the first half, and then set up Williams to volley in a second just three minutes later. Piqué and Neymar had penalty appeals turned down before the break, but soon after the restart Messi got one back with a direct free kick which Iraizoz could only push on to the crossbar, the ball dropping down over the line before the keeper could push it away. Later in the second half Raúl García and then Iturraspe were both sent off for second bookable offences, but although Messi hit the post in the dying minutes, the nine men held on to ensure the win. (05.01.17)
Three more cup ties on Wednesday, Real Madrid celebrating their Club World Cup title with a 3-0 win over Sevilla. Zidane rested Ronaldo and Benzema, but James took advantage of a rare start to fire the opener past Sergio Rico in the eleventh minute. With half an hour gone Varane headed the second from a Kroos corner, and James made it three from the penalty spot after Mariano brought down Modric on the stroke of half time. Rico also had to keep out Marcelo and Morata amongst others, but Kiko Casilla had saves to make as well, in particular from Correa and Vitolo before the break.
Earlier in the evening Real Sociedad beat Villarreal 3-1 to give the Basque side the edge for next week’s second leg. Willian José put the locals ahead with a chip over Sergio Asenjo after Oyarzabal set him up, and Carlos Vela made it two with half an hour gone after a terrible mix-up between Asenjo and Mario gifted him the ball in front of an empty net. Midway through the second half Oyarzabal fired home a third, but an impressive late strike by Trigueros at least gave the visitors some hope.
Meanwhile the two surviving second division teams Alcorcón and Córdoba played out a dull scoreless draw on a foggy night in Madrid, the result if anything favouring the Andalusians for the return match. Piovaccari caused some problems for the local defence before the break, and Kieszek had to save from Alvaro Rey after the restart, but in the end both coaches settled for the draw. (04.01.17)
Cup matches will be coming thick and fast over the next few weeks, with four of the fifth round first leg ties taking place just three days in to the New Year. Atlético Madrid are already looking good for a place in the last eight after they won 0-2 at Las Palmas, Koke starting things off midway through the first half with a low shot after a cross from Vrsaljko was only partly cleared. Griezmann headed the second after Gameiro headed back another Vraljko centre soon after the restart, and although Moyà had to keep out Jonathan Viera and Vicente Gómez, Gameiro and Griezmann could both have added to the scoreline later on. .
It was a good day for the away sides though, Celta virtually ensuring their place in the quarter finals with a 1-4 victory at Valencia. Iago Aspas got the opener from the penalty spot in only the third minute after youngster Javi Jiménez brought down Pablo Hernández in the area, and Bongonda scored a second and set up Wass for a third with only twenty minutes gone. Dani Parejo hit the bar though and then got one back with a second penalty after Sergio Alvarez pulled down Rodrigo in the area soon after the restart, but Guidetti latched on to Bongonda’s pass to make it four with a quarter of an hour to go. Not the best of starts for caretaker coach Voro, and the home crowd turned on the directors’ box after the final whistle.
Eibar meanwhile clocked up a comfortable 0-3 victory at regional neighbours Osasuna, Nano giving them the lead on the half hour mark after connecting with a cross from Luna. Oriol Riera and Sergio León brought good saves out of Yoel either side of half time, but Bebé made it two after Jaume Domenech could only block a flick from Adrián González, and Adrián himself rounded things off with a header from Arbilla’s cross in the final minutes.
Deportivo were in fact the only home team not to lose on Tuesday, and they left it late before fighting back to draw 2-2 with Alavés. Christian Santos chested down a Theo Hernández cross to put the visitors in front in the third minute, and Edgar Méndez made it two from the penalty spot after Mosquera tripped Marcos Llorente in the area just before the interval. Bruno Gama cut in from the wing to get one back though with twenty minutes to go, and Joselu headed the eqaulizer after Arribas headed on a wide free kick with the game already in time added on. (03.01.17)