MADRID, 17 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Girona eliminated Rayo Vallecano (3-1) this Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, also showing its unstoppable march in a 'ko tournament' where Real Sociedad and RC Celta advanced after attacking El Sadar and Mestalla .
Míchel's men extended their football trance this season to take another step in a Cup that they want to squeeze to the end as they do with their revelation season in the League. The leader of the domestic competition made Rayo shake in the first half, but the Madrid team managed to leave on their feet at half-time in Montilivi.
There was not much precision at the start and the visiting team paid much more for their doubts. Francisco's team had the first, a one-on-one from Randy Nteka, but Girona did not forgive with a double from Stuani in five minutes, the second from a penalty. The Girona gale, well known at this point, made it 3-0 through Blind. All in all, Rayo breathed thanks to Nteka.
The team from the fringe entered the second half with options, but did not find the goal due to emotion against a Girona that was more or less comfortable with the lead. The changes encouraged Rayo more but Falcao forgave one of the good steals that Francisco's team achieved to try to cut back. Girona continues to expand its new dimension to reach the quarterfinals in the Cup, its all-time high.
EL SADAR AND MESTALLA ARE LEFT WITHOUT A CUP
Furthermore, Wednesday's matchday left Real Sociedad and RC Celta's ticket somewhat more difficult. The Basque team beat (0-2) an Osasuna that refused to give in as it did last week in the Super Cup semi-finals against FC Barcelona. After a first half without much history, Real pushed after the restart.
After a couple of good chances for the visitors, in the 56th minute came a penalty from Catena on Le Normand. The referee did not attend to the local complaint when watching the replay on the VAR and on top of that he sent off the 'rojillo' defender. Mikel Oyarzabal increased the score to 0-1, but the locals gave the rest to try to tie.
It was not noticed that Osasuna had been left with 10, although he lacked a good last pass to find the reward for his effort. By the 80th minute, the local gasoline began to fail and Real came out of the cave with Sadiq, Zakharyan and Brais Méndez. The Spaniard forgave the sentence in stoppage time, but the rejection of his penalty was taken advantage of by Mikel Merino to sign Real's ticket.
For its part, Celta attacked the 'che' fiefdom with a good start, a 0-2 lead after 20 minutes through Luca de la Torre and Anastasios Douvikas. Valencia, poor in defense and very nervous in front of their fans, found themselves on the ropes, the Galician team even coming close to third, but a penalty from Carlos Domínguez that Pepelu converted gave life to the locals (1-2).
Rubén Baraja's men remained in control in the second half, but the chances decreased in both goals. With 20 minutes left Valencia had a header from Hugo Duro, but the good header was Douvikas, to sign the double that sentenced Valencia 10 minutes from the end. Rafa Benítez's men grew in the Cup to fuel a bad campaign in the League.