Copa del Rey
Atletico Madrid tore Barcelona apart with four first-half goals to secure a 4-0 victory on Thursday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, leaving the holders staring at a near impossible task in the return match.
New coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he was not afraid of failure as he took the blame for Real Madrid's stunning 3-2 defeat to second-division Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Wednesday.
Real Madrid could be without defender David Alaba and midfielder Eduardo Camavinga for the Copa del Rey final after both were injured in Wednesday's 1-0 LaLiga victory over Getafe.
Eliminated from the Champions League, Atletico suffered another massive blow with their Cup exit as they extended their winless run to six matches. All signs now point to a fourth consecutive trophy-less season as they trail leaders Barcelona by six points in the LaLiga standings.
Ancelotti said he was in awe of Endrick's remarkable skill after the 18-year-old Brazilian scored the winner and fired a brilliant strike off the post.
Barca extended their unbeaten run to 10 games after opening up an early four-goal lead led by a hat-trick from Ferran Torres, who stepped in for LaLiga and Champions League top-scorer Robert Lewandowski as Flick rested key players.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised his side's young players for stepping up and making the difference as they earned a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a largely second-string team on Wednesday.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said that he understands the club fans booying him and his team in their 5-2 win over Celta Vigo in their Copa del Rey round of 16 clash on Thursday, which he sees as an act of frustration after a humiliating 5-2 loss to rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday.
Athletic Bilbao will look to put two disappointing Copa del Rey finals behind them and triumph at their third attempt in five seasons when they face Real Mallorca in Seville on Saturday to end a painful 40-year title drought.
Athletic Bilbao beat Barcelona 4-2 at home to knock them out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as brothers Inaki and Nico Williams struck in extra time in a breathtaking quarter-final.
Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme scored in extra time to give Atletico Madrid a 4-2 derby victory over last year's champions Real Madrid that earned Diego Simeone's side a Copa del Rey quarter-final place on Thursday.
The visitors defended superbly after Real centre back Eder Militao scored an own goal in the first half, managing to overcome the loss of key players like Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele who missed the game due to injuries.
InterCity, promoted to the third division last season, came from behind three times to force extra time after a 3-3 draw at the end of 90 minutes, but were then knocked out when substitute Ansu Fati netted a 103rd-minute winner in Alicante.
Koeman has called Valencia a difficult club to manage as he prepares to face his former team for the first time.
Athletic Bilbao lost to Granada 2-1 on Thursday night but they advanced to the final thanks to a 1-0 victory at home at the first leg.
A clinical Barcelona won 3-0 at Real Madrid in an intense second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday as a Luis Suarez double helped them secure a 4-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the final for the sixth straight season.
Philippe Coutinho struck twice as Barcelona mounted a comeback to thrash Sevilla 6-1 and sweep into the Copa del Rey semi-finals 6-3 on aggregate on Wednesday.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said on Saturday he was open to staying at the club beyond this season but will wait until the end of the campaign to decide his future, which he added would depend on whether his side win trophies.
Real Madrid will be hoping to exercise a few ghosts in the Copa del Rey last 16 after they were drawn to face local rivals Leganes on Thursday.
Copa del Rey (The Spanish cup) quarter-final draw washeld on Friday, 12 January, 2018.
