Spain: Real, Barcelona suffer Copa del Rey disappointment

Spanish giants, Real Madrid, and Barcelona suffered painful defeats in their respective Copa del Rey quarter-final matches on Thursday night.

Real were the first to bow out following a seven-goal thriller against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Inspired by youngsters, Alexander Isak and Martin Odegaard, on loan from Real Madrid, Sociedad put on a show at the Bernabeu to beat Los Blancos 3-4 in front of their home fans.

Ten-man Sociedad looked home and dry when goals from Odegaard, and Isak, who netted a brace, put them 0-3 up after 56 minutes of play.

Marcelo reduced the deficit when he pulled one back for Zinedine Zidane’s men just before the hour mark.

However, defensive midfielder, Mikel Merino restored Sociedad’s three-goal cushion when he finished a pass from Isak to make it 1-4.

In the final ten minutes, however, it was the home side who attempted an incredible comeback after Rodrygo and Nacho Fernandez struck two late goals to set up a frenetic end to the game.

But the away side held on for a famous win to deny Real a chance for a possible domestic double this season.

Inaki Williams sends Barcelona packing with a late strike

At San Mames, Barcelona failed to take advantage of Real’s earlier slip up after falling 1-0 to another Basque side, this time, Athletic Bilbao.

Barca were obviously in control from start to finish and created enough chances to have sealed up the win, but Lionel Messi and his teammates left their scoring boots at Camp Nou.

Messi and Antoine Griezmann were guilty of missing Barca’s best chances in the game, while Bilbao had a goal ruled out earlier for offside.

In the end, a late header from Inaki Williams proved to be the difference, sending Quique Setien’s men out of the Copa as they begin to rue those numerous missed chances.