Hazard grabs winner as Madrid see off Elche in extra time

Substitute Eden Hazard scored the winner five minutes from time as Real Madrid survived a scare to reach the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, beating Elche after extra time at Estadio Martinez Valero.

After a tight game in normal time, the hosts took a shock lead when Gonzalo Verdu fired in from the edge of the area after his free-kick hit the wall.

Isco levelled on 108 minutes, before Pere Milla was sent off in stoppage time.

The visitors created chances but couldn’t find a way through in normal time, and brought on both Luka Modric and Casemiro with 20 minutes remaining.

📹 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙀𝙉 & 𝙂𝙊𝙇𝙀𝙎
🆚 @elchecf 1-2 @realmadrid
🔀 ¡Estamos en cuartos!#CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/Lu4DPwt39E

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 20, 2022

Hazard was introduced for extra time, but Madrid were forced to respond after Verdu’s strike just before the break.

Parity was restored when Isco cleverly flicked Dani Ceballos’ shot after Casemiro’s byeline cross.

With penalties looming, Hazard latched on to David Alaba’s pass to round Axel Werner and send Carlo Ancelotti’s side through to the last eight.