Defeated in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday against FC Barcelona (3-1), the Merengues almost suffered another failure on Thursday: French midfielder Etienne Capoue began to cast doubt on Real with a sublime sequence and a goal at closed angle from the 4th minute, then the young Nigerian winger Samu Chukwueze doubled the bet just before the break, in the 42nd.

But after a catastrophic first period, Real woke up: a goal from Vinicius (57th), another from Eder Militao, after a header from Karim Benzema repelled by goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen (69th), then a last signed Dani Ceballos in the 86th, who snatched an unexpected ticket for the quarters at the "White House".

“Everyone gives Real Madrid for dead. But we will never give up, neither tomorrow (Thursday, editor’s note), nor Sunday, ever. We will get out of this dynamic, which is not positive. When? I don't know. But I know we'll get out of it. And not too late, because this team wants to go all the way," Ancelotti warned at a press conference on Wednesday.

The people of Madrid, with most of their executives (Thibaut Courtois, Karim Benzema, Vinicius...) shuddered: completely overwhelmed in defense by Villarreal's offensives in the first period, they took a long time to enter their match, but were revived by an untenable Dani Cabellos on his entry (56th) in place of Toni Kroos.

Already 2-1 winners in the league on January 7 in the renovated La Ceramica stadium, Quique Setién's men almost repeated the feat on Thursday.

© JOSE JORDAN / AFP

Capoue even scored his third goal in the King's Cup this season, but the "Yellow Submarine" ended up sinking in the second half.

Dubbed for "Lewy"

Earlier in the evening, FC Barcelona easily disposed of the modest AD Ceuta (Spanish D3) 5-0 to climb to the quarters.

The Catalans were slow to open the scoring, and had to wait until the 41st minute to see Raphinha unblock the situation with a magnificent curling shot from the left, grazed by the opposing goalkeeper.

Robert Lewandowski, suspended in La Liga and therefore established by Xavi in ​​the King's Cup, doubled the lead in the 50th at the conclusion of a good recovery from Franck Kessié.

Then Ansu Fati, entered on the hour mark, widened the gap in the 70th on a nice breakthrough on the left side, before Franck Kessié (77th) and Lewandowski (90th) sealed the victory.

Crowned in the Spanish Super Cup after their victory in the clasico on Sunday (3-1) and leader in La Liga, Barça takes advantage of their excellent dynamics to cross the towers, and will join Real, Atlético, Real Sociedad and other big La Liga teams in the quarters.

© 2023 AFP