Celta Copa stunner as Real suffers 2nd loss in a row
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CELTA Vigo took advantage of its breakaway chances in the second half to stun Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, handing Zinedine Zidane’s team its second consecutive defeat after a record run of 40 games unbeaten.
Iago Aspas netted off a counterattack in the 64th minute and set up Jonny Castro’s goal after another break in the 70th, one minute after Marcelo had equalized for the hosts at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Celta, which eliminated Atletico Madrid at this stage of last year’s tournament, needs a draw to advance in next week’s second leg in Vigo. Even a 0-1 loss would be enough at the Balaidos Stadium.
“We will need to play even better in Vigo because we are facing a great rival that will make it very difficult for us,” Celta coach Eduardo Berizzo said. “No result is safe against a team like Real.”
It was the fifth win in a row for Celta, and the second loss for Real since setting the Spanish record for most consecutive games without a defeat in all competitions. It had lost by the same score at Sevilla in the Spanish league on Sunday to see its streak end.
Before then, Real hadn’t lost since a Champions League game at Wolfsburg, Germany, in April, and its only other defeat last year was at home against Atletico in the Spanish league.
“I’m not worried,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said. “It’s a difficult moment because of the consecutive losses, but we know we can overcome this. We are behind but we can still change that in the return match.”
Real hadn’t lost at home in the Copa in five years, since a 1-2 defeat against Barcelona in the 2012 quarterfinals.
Celta was eliminated by Sevilla in last season’s semifinals. Real, which was disqualified in the opening round last season for fielding an ineligible player, is seeking its first title since 2014.
In the day’s other match, forward Ibai Gomez scored twice late to give Alaves a two-goal lead over second-division Alcorcon heading into next week’s second leg at home.
In other first-leg ties yesterday, two-time defending champion Barcelona plays at Real Sociedad, while Atletico hosts Eibar.
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