Round of 16
The first of the day's knockout ties proved to be a highly entertaining affair as Levante UD and CD Leganes got the last-16 stage up and running with a pulsating contest that ended in a 2-2 draw after normal time and had to be resolved with a penalty shootout. The Madrilenians converted all of their spot-kicks to progress to the next round.
The next game saw Villarreal CF claim a 2-1 win over Getafe CF, after which a further two matches went to penalties: a fiercely contested derby between Real Betis and Sevilla FC and an evenly matched, goalless stalemate between Valencia CF and D. Alaves. Seville prevailed over their cross-city foes and they were joined in the quarter-finals by the Vitoria-based outfit.
FC Barcelona, RC Celta and RCD Espanyol also advanced to the next stage courtesy of narrow victories. The Azulgranas eked out a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, whilst the Galicians ran out 2-1 winners over Athletic Club and the Blanquiazules edged past Real Sociedad in a 1-0 triumph.
The tie that brought the curtain down on the last-16 matches didn't disappoint as it too left fans right on the edge of their seats up until the very last kick. There was simply no separating Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid during normal time, before Los Blancos held their nerve to record a 4-3 shootout win.
Quarter-finals
Sevilla and Celta got the evening schedule under way in an encounter that the Andalusians dominated from start to finish. The Sevillians hit the front through yet another Ibra stike, before Ruben conjured up a beautifully crafted solo goal to put the result beyond Celta's reach.
Barcelona qualified for the semis following a 2-0 success over Villarreal, with Lamine Yamal setting the Catalans on their way, before Shane Patrick Kluivert rounded things off. Meanwhile, Espanyol booked their last-four spot after getting the better of Alaves in a 2-1 win, secured courtesy of strikes from Jan Peries and David Escoda.
The second day of action was concluded with a rip-roaring derby meeting between Leganes and Real Madrid. The Pepineros got their noses in front through a Jaime own goal, but Madrid kept plugging away and were ultimately rewarded following a Manuel Ordoñez leveller and Carlos Javier's last-gasp winner.
The semi-final lineup
Sevilla v Barcelona
Espanyol v Real Madrid
Source: laligaes.es