Atletico to meet rival Real Madrid in Copa del Rey's Round of 16
Atletico Madrid set up a crosstown Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid despite drawing 2-2 with third-division Hospitalet on Thursday, advancing 5-2 on aggregate.
Having won the first leg 3-0, Atletico boss Diego Simeone opted to rest several of his stars and it did not backfire too badly as they progressed 5-2 on aggregate.
Mario Mandzukic, one of the few regulars turning out for Atletico on Thursday, scored in either half but his goals were cancelled out on each occasion by Hospitalet midfielder Ruben Jimenez.
It mattered little to the overall outcome as they sauntered into the fifth round.
The same can not be said for their opponents in the Primera Division this weekend, Athletic Bilbao, who managed to survive a scare against Alcoyano.
Following a 1-1 draw in the opening leg, the teams were only separated by Borja Viguera's 38th-minute goal for the La Liga side.
Malaga scored three goals in the final 31 minutes to blow away top-flight rivals Deportivo La Coruna 5-2 on aggregate.
The teams were level at 1-1 in the first leg and on the night after Roque Santa Cruz's 51st minute opener was cancelled out by Helder Postiga six minutes later.
But Malaga came on strong in the final third of the game, with Jose Recio putting Malaga ahead once again before Santa Cruz's second in the 68th minute and Nacho Camacho's last-gasp strike sealed their progress.
Elche, rock-bottom in La Liga, put their league struggles behind them as Adrian's seventh-minute goal was enough to give them a 1-0 win on aggregate over Real Valladolid.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
