FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Valladolid v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid, Spain - November 30, 2024 Atletico Madrid's Rodrigo De Paul celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo
(Reuters) - Atletico Madrid scored three goals late in the second half to recover from a goal down and beat fourth division Cacereno 3-1 to advance to the Spanish Copa del Rey last 32 on Thursday.
Struggling in poor conditions at the small Principe Felipe stadium in the western Spanish region of Extremadura, Diego Simeone's Atletico were stunned on the half-hour mark when forward Alvaro Merencio gave the hosts the lead following a quick counter-attack.
Cacereno goalkeeper Diego Nieves made a string of saves to keep the 7,000 local fans' dream alive but the Spanish giants equalised in the 83rd minute when Rodrigo De Paul played in a perfect cross which Clement Lenglet headed into the back of the net.
Cacereno were reduced to 10 men after midfielder Jaime Sancho was shown a second yellow card for a tactical foul and Atletico substitute Julian Alvarez almost scored from a free kick but the referee ruled the effort out.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone was shown a straight red for his complaints about the decision but his team went ahead two minutes into added time when De Paul fired home a deflected strike and Alvarez added a third following a counter-attack.
Earlier on Thursday, Osasuna fought back to beat lowly Ceuta 3-2 but other LaLiga sides did not make the last 32.
Girona were knocked out on penalties by fourth division Logrones on Wednesday and Villarreal were stunned by fourth division Pontevedra 1-0 thanks to a last-gasp goal by Dalisson de Almeida. Espanyol was eliminated on Tuesday after losing 2-0 to lowly Barbastro.
Valladolid needed extra-time to beat Real Avila 4-2 while Leganes knocked out fourth division Estepona 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Valencia, Real Betis, Celta Vigo, Las Palmas and Rayo Vallecano progressed with comfortable wins.
Real Madrid and Barcelona enter the competition in the next round.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas, editing by Ed Osmond)
