La Liga - Madrid humbled by minnows

Eurosport - Tue, 11 Nov 23:45:00 2008

Third-tier team Real Union knocked Liga champions Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey on away goals after striking late to earn a 6-6 aggregate draw.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Copa del Rey Real Madrid-Real Unión Irún - 0

The tiny Basque club had won the first leg of the last-32 tie 3-2 in Irun and were trailing 4-2 at the Bernabeu when Eneko Romo buried a header past keeper Jerzy Dudek in the 90th minute to oust the home team.

"There was no problem with our attitude," said Madrid coach Bernd Schuster after fielding a team weakened by injuries.

"The problem in recent games is our opponents have had very few chances but have scored from them. The team is producing comebacks but you can't do it every time. It's worrying.

"I am not worried [about my position] but I understand others are and they have doubts over the team and my work."

The 17-time Copa winners had made a lethargic start and were soon behind after striker Abasolo was left unmarked to fire past Dudek.

Raul equalised with a looping header before the break before scoring again just after the restart.

He tapped in from Javier Saviola's pass a minute after Salcedo had sprinted clear to put Union back in front 2-1.

Madrid substitute Alberto Bueno swept in a glorious 25-metre shot to level the tie on aggregate and Raul looked to have sealed the win when he completed his hat-trick, his cross sailing past everyone and into the net with four minutes to go.

But Madrid's defence, who leaked three goals at home to promoted Malaga in the league on Saturday, were caught out again at the end when Romo struck.

On Wednesday, 13 more matches will be played with Villarreal trying to overturn a 5-0 first-leg deficit at home to third tier Poli Ejido.

The last two ties take place on Thursday when 2007 winners Sevilla seek to come back from 1-0 down at home to third tier Ponferradina.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. haha madrid can be pathetic, dont you think so. i mean what giant team like madrid would lose to real union. no offense to their fans or the team. there is no way madrid are champions this year.
    frm, a barca fan

    From Juanito, on Wed 7 Jan 2:25AM
  2. This song is dedicated to Real Madrid and their fans:
    NA NA NA NA
    NA NA NA NA
    HEY HEY HEY
    GOODBYE !!

    From Tim, on Thu 13 Nov 1:07PM
  3. Good night, madrid,
    Hahahahaahahahahaha
    yours sincerely,
    Barca!

    From collinsc, on Wed 12 Nov 11:05PM
  4. looooooooooool......am looking forward to the classico now...i would love to see these tossers thrashed by the blaugrana!....BEST CLUB IN THE 20th century loooooooooool...

    From titou.soltani, on Wed 12 Nov 5:27PM
  5. loooool @#$% real madriiid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From zezva_barca166, on Wed 12 Nov 2:04PM
  6. the house of cards built at the Santiago Bernabeu is slowly and steadliy crumbling now..

    and this is all normal...

    RMad are now going to pay for their broken policy of not promoting youth players and raising them well..

    From J.C, on Wed 12 Nov 1:25PM
  7. Madrid are in such shambles they will be lucky IF they qualify for the Uefa Cup next year. Anyhow, Barça WILL have a BETTER year than Madrid. VICTORY SHALL BE OURS !!

    From Tim, on Wed 12 Nov 12:32PM
  8. Barca will win nothing. Just wait and see. They now in good form, but they will not maintain this form all the season. Real are not playing very well, they have a lot of injuries.....but they still behind Barca only by 2 points. And about Copa...yea madrid defense let them down. You all Barca fans just wait Real to get their good form and their injured players, and then nobody will stop them.

    From marrin88, on Wed 12 Nov 12:12PM
  9. Barçelona will prevail. VICTORY SHALL BE OURS !!

    From Tim, on Wed 12 Nov 11:13AM
  10. and the ronaldo saga will resurface again coz real know they can't win anything w/out the Man Utd starman!

    From dila, on Wed 12 Nov 1:21AM
  11. guys why not join fc barcelona

    From Immanuel George, on Wed 12 Nov 12:02AM
  12. LMAO... guess you don't really know Real then ~~

    From moon2309, on Tue 11 Nov 11:57PM
  13. Ain't that the truth.

    From adrian m, on Tue 11 Nov 11:48PM
  14. sigh...man i thought madrid would pass...madrid defense let them down again.

    From benlee07154, on Tue 11 Nov 11:27PM
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