Ten-man Real Madrid overcame a hostile environment and retreated from a goal in extra time to beat Elche 2-1 on Thursday to reach the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
After scoring 90 minutes, Elche took the lead with Real with a free kick earned with 10 men after Marcelo was sent off for a foul on Tate Morante.
Experienced defender Gonzalo Verdu hit a free kick into the wall, but his second attempt removed Dani Ceballos and wrong-footed goalkeeper Andrey Lunin before ending up in the back of the net.
Real equalized when Isco deflected a Ceballos shot inside the box and substitute Eden Hazard on a counter-attack after receiving a through ball from David Alaba, scoring the goalkeeper and ending up in an empty net. Scored the winner.
The match ended in contention as Elche found the net in the last minute of extra time, but the referee rejected the attempt to foul the build-up.
After a long trip home from Saudi Arabia, where Real won 2-0 in the Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, manager Carlo Ancelotti rested several first-team regulars.
"Hazzard and Isco won the game, we have to uncover it. It means something," Ancelotti said. “Maybe they deserve to play more, but the past is the past, and we have to look ahead. I can count on them, and a squad with an extraordinary character never gives up, fighting against adversity to the end Is.
"The game of this period of this season has given me the most joy."
"I told the players before the game that it will be a long game, they have done well, we have to be ready for everything, for mistakes, we can accept, it can go into extra time, we have to be ready. I knew changes could boost the team and they did."
"Coming down from 10 men is a big achievement," Real defender Nacho Fernandez told reporters.
"It was a long game but they have defended really well. We are happy. We fought till the end, even in the toughest of conditions. I think we deserve to go on."
Real Madrid join Real Sociedad, Valencia, Real Betis, Rio Vallecano, Mallorca and Cadiz in the quarter-finals. Athletic Bilbao are also in the fray after beating cup holders Barcelona on Thursday.