© EuroFootball.com
On Tuesday, two King's Cup eighth-final matches were played, in which giants celebrated different victories: the leader of the Spanish championship "Barcelona" defeated "Zamora" 3-1 as guests, while Madrid's "Real" defeated Bilbao "Athletic" footballers with a minimal result as guests.
The match between "Barcelona" and "Zamora" started very unexpectedly - the hosts broke through in the fourth minute of the match after Xaco's goal. The defender broke through three defenders and sent the ball into the goal defended by substitute "Barca" goalkeeper Alberto Jorquera.
Without their attacking leaders - Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi - and defender Deco, "Barca" soon took the initiative into their hands. Before the end of the first half, with less than ten minutes left, Giovanni van Bronckhorst equalized the score after exchanging passes with Santiago Ezquero and Rafael Marquez.
With nine minutes left until the end of the match, the guests were led forward by a great penalty kick from Mexican R.Marquez. This broke down the fighting hosts and after Silvinho's pass, the Frenchman Ludovicas Giuly scored from close range at the very end of the match.
This was already the fourteenth consecutive victory for "Barcelona" in all tournaments.
Under the leadership of Javier Clemente, Bilbao "Athletic" players forced the Royal team, playing without leaders, to struggle. In the composition of "Real", due to injuries, forwards Ronaldo and Raul could not play, and due to bureaucratic problems, the new club purchase Cicinho could not play.
This allowed the hosts to have the initiative for most of the match, but the reliable play of substitute "Real" goalkeeper Diego Lopez prevented "Athletic" from breaking through.
The only goal of the match was scored in the 70th minute by England's national team captain David Beckham after Robinho's pass. Beckham's goal allowed "Real" to secure their first victory since 1998 at the Bilbao "San Mames" stadium.
After a two-month break, the recovered Englishman Jonathan Woodgate appeared on the field. The defender ran onto the field after a substitution and played the last 15 minutes.
The remaining eighth-final matches will be played on Wednesday, and the second-leg matches will take place next week.
Tuesday results
"Zamora" 1 - 3 "Barcelona"
4' [1 - 0] Xaco
36' [1 - 1] Giovanni van Bronckhorst
81' [1 - 2] Rafael Marquez
84' [1 - 3] Ludovic Giuly
0 - 1 Madrid
70' [0 - 1] David Beckham
Wednesday matches
Vigo - Seville
La Coruna - Pamplona
Madrid - Barcelona
