It is precisely Hazard that allows Real Madrid to escape embarrassment in extension

Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 9:30 PM• Jeroen van Poppel • Last update: 21:34

Real Madrid escaped elimination from the Copa del Rey on Thursday. It almost went wrong for Carlo Ancelotti’s team visiting Elche, the number fifteen in LaLiga, when Marcelo was shown red in extra time and Real also trailed 1-0. Isco and Eden Hazard, two substitutes who hardly play a significant role in Madrid this season, managed to turn the tide in the second half of the extension: a 1-2 win.

Real traveled without captain Karim Benzema and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The latter was missing for private reasons, Ancelotti indicated on Wednesday. Most of the usual starters started, except for a few names: Andriy Lunin was under the bar and Marcelo started as left-back; Nacho started in the center back next to David Alaba as a replacement for the suspended Éder Militão. Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde had a chance in midfield, while Luka Jovic took over from Benzema as the striker.

The most exciting moment of the first half came in the tenth minute, when Elche looked to be taking the lead. Lucas Pérez outsmarted Marcelo and crossed the line from the back line, after which Guido Carrillo hit the crossbar from very close range and to the astonishment of the home crowd. Real then had the initiative, but it was not easy for the Madrilenians. Yet two good opportunities followed just before half-time: Camavinga shot goalkeeper Axel Werner from twelve yards, while an attempt by Vinícius Júnior passed Lucas Vázquez at the far post.

After the break, Real at least managed not to offer Elche another great chance, but the Royal also did not create much against the number fifteen of LaLiga. Casemiro saw a long-range shot being tapped by Werner, while Vinicius also failed to surprise the goalkeeper from a little closer in the final phase.

Extra time followed, in which Raúl Guti fired a dangerous free kick on behalf of Elche, which was pushed away by Lunin. In the 101st minute, Marcelo took down the broken Tete Morente, after which the Real captain was sent off with a red card. The free kick that followed was first shot into the wall by Gonzalo Caicedo. The defender got a rebound and luckily saw it come in through Dani Ceballos’ block: 1-0.

Real equalized in the second half of the extension thanks to substitute Isco, who fortunately extended a failed shot by Ceballos: 1-1. Hazard had also entered the field in the 91st minute and the Belgian gave Real the lead in the 116th minute. Hazard was launched by Alaba, round the far out Werner and shot the ball into the empty goal. Elche seemed to be level again in the very last minute, but Fidel’s striker was disallowed due to offside by a teammate who was annoyingly in an offside position on the ground.