Real Madrid booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey despite losing 1-0 at Leganes in the second leg of their last-16 clash at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Wednesday night.
Los Blancos entered the match as the overwhelming favourites to progress to the final eight having recorded a 3-0 victory when the pair met at the Bernabeu in the first leg last week.
Martin Braithwaite's first-half goal saw Leganes record a 1-0 victory on the night, but Real Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate success.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the second leg of the last-16 Copa del Rey clash between Leganes and Real Madrid from the Spanish capital. Real Madrid are the overwhelming favourites to progress to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals at Leganes' expense having recorded a 3-0 win in the first leg of their last-16 tie last week. It is going to take some effort from Leganes to turn this tie around, that's for sure! Be sure to stay tuned for live minute-by-minute updates right here.
TEAMS!
LEGANES: Pichu; Kravets, Siovas, Omeruo, Bustinza, Juanfran; Gumbau, Recio, Eraso; Merino, Braithwaite
REAL MADRID: Navas; Odriozola, Varane, Nacho, Reguilon; Valverde, Casemiro, Marcelo; Vazquez, Vinicius, Isco
Marcos Llorente, Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Thibaut Courtois, Mariano Diaz, Marco Asensio, Jesus Vallejo and Karim Benzema are all currently on the sidelines for Real Madrid. As a result, Marcelo will seemingly play in midfield tonight, while Vinicius Junior and Isco are both handed spots in the final third of the field. Alvaro Odriozola and Sergio Reguilon both start at the back, as do Nacho and Raphael Varane. It is a strong Real Madrid XI considering their injury problems!
As for Leganes, on-loan Middlesbrough attacker Martin Braithwaite impressed in the first leg last week and he returns to the XI tonight having been on the bench for the La Liga clash against Huesca last time out. Former Barcelona midfielder Gerard Gumbau also starts, while there is a spot for on-loan Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo. Leganes are far from full strength tonight.
Sergio Ramos, Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Junior scored the goals in the first leg at the Bernabeu and the European champions will be looking to finish the job tonight. The players are ready and so are the supporters - kickoff in this Copa del Rey last-16 second leg is next!
KICKOFF: Leganes kick things off on home soil...
... not too much to report in the early stages, although Leganes have had decent possession of the ball. The hosts need to score early and indeed first if they are to have any chance of turning this tie around in front of their own supporters, who are in good voice at the moment.
Leganes might have knocked Real Madrid out of last season's Copa del Rey with a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu, but the team from the outskirts of the Spanish capital suffered a 3-0 at Los Blancos in the first leg of their last-16 clash last week. They actually played quite well for long periods, but Real Madrid were decisive in the final third, with Vinicius Junior having a fine game.
Real Madrid returned to winning ways in La Liga at the weekend, with Dani Ceballos scoring late in a 2-1 success at Real Betis. It was a much-needed victory for the capital giants, but Santiago Solari's side are still 10 points off leaders Barcelona in Spain's top flight. As a result, there is huge pressure on Los Blancos to enjoy a strong Copa del Rey campaign.
Real Madrid have not actually won this competition since 2014 though, and as mentioned above, were dumped out of the competition by Leganes in the quarter-finals last season. Not an awful lot to report in the first eight minutes of this match as both teams look to settle.
SHOT! Siovas fires a long-range attempt wide of the Real Madrid post.
As mentioned, Leganes beat Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of last season's Copa del Rey, with a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu in the second leg seeing them progress on away goals. Los Blancos recorded a 4-1 victory when the pair met at the Bernabeu in La Liga earlier this season, however, and have won seven of their eight meetings in all competitions, including the first leg last week.
Smart goalkeeping from Navas as the Costa Rican comes to punch a high ball and he wins a free kick after being caught by Gumbau. Still goalless with 13 minutes on the clock here.
It has been a turbulent campaign for Real Madrid, who sacked Julen Lopetegui following a poor start to the campaign. They are all but out of the title race due to Barcelona's current form, but the Copa del Rey does provide a genuine chance to land some domestic silverware, which has been hard for the club to find in recent years. Not an awful lot happening at the moment here!
It was always going to be difficult to cope without Cristiano Ronaldo's goals, but Gareth Bale has been unable to step up to the extent that many believed he would. The Welshman only has four La Liga strikes this season and is currently on the sidelines with a calf problem. Benzema also misses out tonight with a fractured finger and Vinicius is through the middle at the moment.
CLOSE! Good work from Leganes as a dangerous cross comes into the Real Madrid box, but Siovas heads wide of the post. Siovas has had both of the game's two efforts!
The Copa del Rey is not high on Leganes' list of priorities this season as their sole focus will be on securing another campaign of La Liga football. They famously knocked Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey last term, but it is going to take some effort to overcome their capital rivals on this occasion. Still goalless, but Real Madrid are having a lot of the ball at the moment.
CHANCE! Couple of big moments for the home side. The first chance comes to Gumbau, but the number six somehow fails to meet a dangerous cross inside the Barcelona box, before Kravets fails to make contact at the far post. Leganes have looked the more likely early on here.
CHANCE! Braithwaite has a swing and a miss this time as Kravets delivers another dangerous cross! All Leganes at the moment in terms of chances, but the score on the night is still 0-0.
CLOSE! Cuellar gets away with one as the Leganes goalkeeper sees his clearance blocked by Reguilon, but the ball drops wide of the home side's post! Dangerous moment there.
CLOSE! Sabin heads only just wide of the Real Madrid post following another period of panic inside the away side's penalty box. Leganes really should be ahead in this second leg!
Copa del Rey semi-finalists last season, Leganes have finished 17th in La Liga in each of the last two campaigns. Los Pepineros currently occupy 13th in Spain's top flight and will enter this particular match off the back of a 1-0 win over Huesca in the league on Saturday.
GOAL! LEGANES 1-0 REAL MADRID (BRAITHWAITE)
Leganes make the breakthrough in the 30th minute of this second leg as on-loan Middlesbrough attacker Braithwaite converts from close range having seen his initial header smash off the crossbar! It is now 3-1 in this Copa del Rey last-16 tie!
Leganes are very much on the front foot at the moment and another goal before the interval would make things very interesting indeed. Real Madrid have again been poor here.
Real Madrid are just not in this match at the moment as Leganes continue to dominate. Braithwaite was excellent in the first half of the first leg last week and that has again been the case.
The less said about Isco's performance in this first period the better! It would not even be a surprise to see the Spaniard hooked at the interval - he has been that disappointing here.
Midfielder Dani Ceballos is going through a fairly extensive warm-up at the moment, which means that the Spaniard could be coming on for Real Madrid at the half-time interval.
Smart feet from Vinicius in a forward position for Real Madrid, but Siovas is across to make the challenge. The resulting corner from the away side is then headed clear by Bustinza.
CLOSE! Vinicius just misses the post with a low strike!
I should not imagine that there will be too much added time at the end of the first period.
HALF TIME: LEGANES 1-0 REAL MADRID
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Leganes leading Real Madrid 1-0 on the night courtesy of a close-range effort from Braithwaite. Leganes have been the better side tonight, but they still trail 3-1 to Real Madrid on aggregate in this last-16 tie.
STATISTICS! Leganes had 56% of the ball in the first period, while they managed 11 attempts, three of which were on target. Real Madrid, meanwhile, hit the target with just one of their three attempts. No yellow cards to report here - it has not been that type of football match.
BENCH WATCH! Real Madrid boss Solari does have experience on his bench in the shape of Ceballos and Carvajal, while Brahim Diaz will be hoping to make his second appearance for the club. Leganes' bench, meanwhile, includes the likes of En Nesyri, Nyom, Silva and Vesga.
KICKOFF: Real Madrid resume the action here...
... REAL MADRID SUB! Ceballos has replaced Reguilon at the break.
Leganes need two more unanswered goals to take this match into extra-time, but away goals do count in the Copa del Rey so one for Real Madrid would be absolutely huge in this tie.
CLOSE! Vinicius curls an attempt wide of the far post after showing excellent feet in a wide position. The Brazilian has been Real Madrid's best player tonight by some distance.
Real Madrid are moving the ball with more pace and purpose at the moment, while Isco has certainly been more involved as he is currently operating closer to Vinicius and Vazquez.
Odriozola breaks into a wide position for Real Madrid before looking to deliver, but Siovas is across to make the clearance. Siovas has been excellent for Leganes tonight.
Real Madrid have been the better team at the start of the second period and it is no surprise that Vinicius has been at the heart of the away side's positive work once again.
SHOT! Braithwaite volleys harmlessly wide of the Real Madrid post from a difficult angle. Leganes have not had much in the second period and therefore that goes down as a chance.
Little over 30 minutes of the second half remaining and Real Madrid are still on the front foot as they look for a leveller on the night. Still 3-1 Real Madrid in the last-16 tie.
Juanfran delivers a dangerous cross into the Real Madrid box, but Varane does well to make the clearance. Leganes are preparing to make their first change of the match here.
LEGANES SUB! Gumbau is replaced by Jose for the home side.
We are entering the stage of the match where Solari will be thinking about a second change. Not too much is happening at the moment, although Vinicius has just sent an attempt over the Leganes crossbar. Little under 25 minutes of normal time remaining in this second leg.
REAL MADRID SUB! Isco is replaced by Gonzalez for Real Madrid.
LEGANES SUB! Bustinza is replaced by En-Nesyri for Leganes.
Another goal for Leganes in the next five minutes or so would make it a very, very interesting final 15 minutes. As it stands, two goals for Leganes would force an extra-time period.
SAVE! Decent save from Cuellar to keep out a strike from Vinicius.
YELLOW CARD! Recio (Leganes) is booked for a poor challenge on Ceballos.
LEGANES SUB! Silva replaces Kravets, who limps off the field.
Little under 15 minutes of normal time remaining and Leganes need two goals here.
It does appear that Real Madrid are going to squeeze into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, but if they lose tonight it will go down as yet another very disappointing result.
Not an awful lot happening at the moment as we enter the final 10 minutes of normal time. Real Madrid are keeping the ball as the click ticks on. Still 3-1 to Real Madrid on aggregate.
YELLOW CARD! Vinicius (Real Madrid) is booked for dissent.
SAVE! Navas keeps out a close-range header from Braithwaite!
CHANCE! Huge chance for Leganes, but Sabin fires over the crossbar from inside the box!
REAL MADRID SUB! Lucas is replaced by Brahim Diaz.
Leganes need two late goals if they are to force extra-time in this last-16 tie.
Ceballos has a low strike deflected wide of the post as the visitors look for an equaliser. We will soon learn just how much added time there will be at the end of the 90 minutes here.
OFF THE POST! The woodwork denies Diaz his first Real Madrid goal! Brilliant work from Vinicius feeds Diaz, but the recent arrival's low effort hits the post and the score is still 1-0.
YELLOW CARD! Casemiro (Real Madrid) is booked for a foul on Jose.
We are into the third of four additional minutes at the end of normal time here.
SAVE! Navas keeps out a close-range strike from Jose!
SAVE! Navas keeps out a powerful Sabin strike!
Lots and lots of pressure from Leganes late on, but they are going out!
FULL TIME: LEGANES 1-0 REAL MADRID (REAL MADRID WIN 3-1 ON AGGREGATE)
So there we have it. Leganes win 1-0 on the night, but exit the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid. Los Blancos are through to the quarter-finals, but it was another very disappointing performance from the European champions. Thanks for joining Sports Mole's live coverage once again. See you next time!
