Madrid (EFE).- A stunning goal by Frenchman Antoine Griezmann in the 61st minute gave Atlético de Madrid qualification for the Copa del Rey quarter-finals after they defeated Deportivo, without brilliance, while Athletic Bilbao beat Cultural Leonesa and Real Sociedad qualified on penalties against Osasuna.

0-1. A Griezmann masterclass puts Atletico in the quarter-finals

A great goal by Frenchman Antoine Griezmann in the 61st minute gave Atlético de Madrid qualification for the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey after defeating, without brilliance, Deportivo, who dreamed of extra time with a header by Italian Samuele Mulattieri in the 79th minute. Despite facing a lower-ranked opponent, Atlético struggled to dominate the game. The match at Riazor highlighted the red-and-white team's problems away from the Metropolitano. Simeone's team lacked creativity in the attacking line. With Baena out of form, the decision to play Marcos Alonso and Johnny Cardoso in midfield proved disastrous. Atlético missed the best version of Julián Álvarez. Five months before the start of the World Cup, the Argentine is still unable to find his goalscoring form and that is a problem for his team. He only appeared at the start of the match with a header and in the last gasp of the first act with a chipped shot that Parreño saved.

El Dépor, spurred on by its fans, did not back down at any moment. Despite Antonio Hidalgo leaving his most destabilizing footballer, winger Yeremay Hernández, on the bench, the Coruñés team took advantage of Atlético's visit to offer a display of their potential. They knew how to suffer when the opponent pressed, but also showed ambition to launch themselves into the attack, especially when Mario Soriano entered the scene. The former rojiblanco footballer is the deportivista compass. The match was born with a frenetic pace. Italian full-back Matteo Ruggeri was the first to threaten with a shot that hit the post. Dépor overcame that initial scare with work and a very centered header from the Dutchman Zakaria Eddahchouri, before, at the edge of halftime, Atlético came close to 0-1 with Julián's chip and a powerful shot from Griezmann that Parreño and the crossbar saved. Dépor came out with an extra gear in the second half and soon scared Atlético with another shot from Zakaria that, after bouncing off Hancko, forced Musso to shine. Simeone did not seem happy with the performance of his players and made a triple substitution. Almada, Barrios and Sorloth replaced Molina, Baena and Julián Álvarez. Hidalgo also refreshed his eleven with Luismi Cruz and the Italian Mulattieri. Riazor dreamed of reliving a night like those of the 'SuperDepor'. But a foul by the Belgian Noubi on Johnny Cardoso on the edge of the area spoiled the white and blue party. The Frenchman Griezmann, as he had done in Atlético's last visit to the Coruña stadium in 2017, showed his quality with a subtle touch. The ball ended up in the squad in the face of a helpless Parreño.

The 0-1 was too unsettling for Atlético, who used their experience to avoid another blow just days after falling to Real Madrid in the Super Cup semi-final. Dépor recovered and in a header by Mulattieri (min. 79) had their opportunity to send the match to extra time, before Simeone reinforced his defense with the entry of Uruguayan central defender Giménez

3-4 Athletic knows how to suffer to knock out Cultural

Athletic had to know how to suffer and overcome Paredes' early expulsion to bring out the best in their individualities, especially Nico Williams, who was the protagonist of two penalties against the international player that ended up being worth the prize of a classification in extra time against a Cultural team that looked the Bilbao side in the eye throughout the match, who continue to be their executioners in all cup matches. The Athletic Club has managed to reach the quarter-finals for the sixth time since the change of format to a single-match format up to the semi-finals implemented seven seasons ago. Since the 2019-20 season, the Bilbao team has overcome 24 of the 25 knockout rounds it has played in a single match. Eight of those ties were against First Division rivals, four from Second, another four with third-tier teams, seven from fourth, and one from sixth. The only tie that the red-and-white team couldn't overcome was the round of 16 of the previous campaign when Osasuna won 2-3 at San Mamés and left the red-and-white team out of the eight best teams in the tournament for the first and only time in these last seven seasons.

2-2. Penalties give Real the pass against Osasuna

Osasuna maintains its bad streak in the Copa del Rey against Real Sociedad and, after taking a two-goal lead, succumbed with goals from Beñat Turrientes and Igor Zubeldia that forced extra time without changes and a penalty shootout that the Guipuzcoans took (2-2/4-3). The marker had already moved three minutes into the game when a poorly cleared cross by the Real Sociedad defense was taken advantage of by Moncayola to beat Unai Marrero with a fantastic shot. Marrero was the substitute in the Copa del Rey for the starter Álex Remiro, who could do little against the placement and speed of the shot by the Navarrese midfielder. La Real fell apart with the early adverse goal and was besieged by a Pamplona team that had the second goal again at Moncayola's feet moments later, although here Marrero was very fine in his clearance to alleviate damage. Things would get even more expensive for an Osasuna with a lot of energy after the rotations in their starting eleven and who found an unexpected prize in a corner kick that, in his attempt to clear, Mikel Oyarzabal turned into an own goal for his misfortune. Epic comeback or elimination from a Cup they won in 2020 were the options for the home team, and they strived for it in a second half in which the Navarrese dedicated themselves to containing and defending the lead, which diminished 20 minutes from the end with the great goal from outside the area by Beñat Turrientes. The people of San Sebastián, without any inhibitions, went all in during the final moments and in stoppage time Zubeldia's goal arrived to equalize the score and take the tie to extra time. The extension was generous with an Osasuna that was saved by the penalty missed by Oyarzabal and two other great interventions by Aitor Fernández to avoid the third and risk it all in the lottery of penalties. There was a Real that was more accurate, converting four of the five shots, only Zakharyan missed, while Osasuna missed those of Moncayola and Catena to succumb in a heroic match by both teams

Results of the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey

Tuesday, January 13: Deportivo (2nd), 0 – ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 Cultural Leonesa (2nd), 3 – ATHLETIC CLUB, 4 (extra time) REAL SOCIEDAD, 2 – Osasuna, 2 (4-3 penalties) Wednesday, January 14:
21:00. Albacete (2nd) – Real Madrid
21:00. Real Betis – Elche
21:00. Alavés – Rayo Vallecano Thursday, January 15:
21:00. Racing Santander (2nd) – Barcelona
21:00. Burgos (2nd) – Valencia
(CET time. -1 GMT).

This Wednesday's Matches

Álvaro Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso's replacement as Real Madrid coach, debuts this Wednesday at the helm of the white team's bench at Albacete's field, in the Spanish Second Division, in the round of 16. In addition, Rayo Vallecano visits Alavés in Vitoria and Betis receives Elche in Seville