Real Madrid embarrassed in the cup by little known Real Union
Even Raul hat-trick was not enough to save Real Madrid from an embarrassing Copa del Rey exit on their own turf against Segunda B side Real Union.
Madrid lost the first leg 3-2 in Irun two weeks ago, and although they again struggled against a team who play in the same league as Castilla (Real’s reserve side), they looked to be going through when Raul completed his treble with five minutes left to give them a 6-5 aggregate lead.
However, there was still time for one last twist in a entertaining tie as Arangoa Eneko Romo scored in injury time to pull the score back to 4-3 and send Real Union through to the last 16 on away goals.
Bernd Schuster’s players had spoken about the importance of the competition in the lead up to the game and the coach included some of his key men with Fabio Cannavaro, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van der Vaart and Raul all handed starting roles.
Despite that it was the home side who went behind after 14 minutes when Paul Abasolo was on target.
Raul made sure Madrid went into the break on level terms with his first goal after 35 minutes but the hosts were again behind four minutes after the break thanks to an Asier Salcedo strike.
Raul was again the man to find an equalizer, a minute later, and when Alberto Bueno netted after 69 minutes the Primera Liga champions finally looked to be getting a grip on their rivals.
Madrid’s comeback looked to have been completed when Raul added his third of the night with just five minutes left but Eneko Romo would ensure a famous night for Real Union when he netted in injury time.
Raúl scored his 300th goal for Real Madrid on Tuesday with the hat-trick against Real Union, his first ever in the Copa del Rey. The captain is now eight shy of overtaking Alfredo di Stéfano (who had 307) as the club’s all-time top scorer. What’s more, he is only seven away from becoming the Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer in La Liga.
Schusterhas been criticised recently as his team have been run close by a few small teams and have conceded far too many. The Spanish Media had today been speculating that the German was underpressure and his job under threat, but president Ramon Calderon has dismissed any such talk.
…For Now
