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Final score - Real Madrid 1-2 Leganes (2-2 aggregate)
Goalscorers: Javier Eraso 31'(Leganes), Karim Benzema 47'(Real Madrid), Gabriel Pires 55'(Leganes)
Real Madrid were dumped out of the Copa del Rey after a lacklustre second leg performance against Leganes. The visitors won 2-1 on the night and qualified for the semifinals on away goals. Javier Eraso opened the scoring for Leganes through a 25-yard thunderbolt in the first half, continuing his good run of form from the first leg.
Just moments into the second half, Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid the lead through a delightful chip which brought the (aggregate) lead back to the home side. But Leganes were determined enough to score the second courtesy of captain Gabriel Pires, who rose the highest from a corner and gave Leganes the advantage with more than half hour to play.
Real Madrid couldn't muster another goal and ultimately crashed out of the competition.
On that note, let's delve further into the game in detail by looking at the 5 talking points that emerged from Real Madrid's shock 2-1 loss to Leganes:
#5 Flawed team selection
Zinedine Zidane has made the most of his squad depth in the Copa del Rey this time around. Making 10 changes to the side that beat Deportivo over the weekend, it was Nacho who was the sole survivor from that thumping win.
Teams do make changes of this magnitude when they are flying in all competitions and when the performance levels have been high from the entire squad.
Real Madrid didn't have both. Then why were the likes of Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo not even included in the matchday squad? Confidence or arrogance?
Ronaldo suffered a dangerous cut to his face in the last night and may not have been completely fit for this game but he was present in the first-team training and looked completely normal with his play.
Real Madrid's fringe has disappointed time and again this season, which makes Zidane's loyalty to these players baffling and makes the decision of not lining up his best XI questionable at best.
It all becomes even more surprising when you take into account that Copa del Rey was the only realistic chance for Real Madrid to win silverware this season and boy have they squandered it.
#4 Karim Benzema shines while Sergio Ramos makes a comeback
Against Deportivo, Karim Benzema made a return to the squad from injury and was introduced as a second-half substitute. The Frenchman was jeered by the Bernabeu faithful on his arrival as his awkward relationship with the Madrid fan base continued.
With Bale and Ronaldo absent, Benzema got a chance to impress from the start against Leganes and he did not disappoint. He took his goal brilliantly, starting off the move and continuing his run to chip the advancing goalkeeper. The club's most experienced no.9 looked threatening and kept the Leganes centre-backs busy with his movements.
Meanwhile, a surprising name was included in the Real Madrid starting XI when the teams were announced. Sergio Ramos was expected to be on the bench for this one but Zidane took a brave call and started him from the word go.
Ramos trained for the first time on Monday after he had suffered a calf injury in the winter break. Though the captain could not influence his side to a victory, his return will definitely improve this underfiring Real Madrid side.
#3 Leganes script history
Leganes is a small town situated on the outskirts of the capital. The football club, founded 89 years ago, runs on a small budget and big hearts. When the top division side drew Real Madrid in the quarterfinals draw, absolutely no one had given them even an ounce of a chance. But look at the scenes now!
After an impressive performance in the first leg, Leganes took the game to Real Madrid in the second and scripted a historic win at the Santiago Bernabeu. The club has qualified for the semis for the first time in their 89 years long history. This feat becomes even more applaudable when one comes to know that this is Leganes' second ever season in the top flight.
Leganes are currently safe from the relegation scrap in La Liga, with a nine-point gap separating them from the bottom three sides.
It means that this year's surprise package of the Copa del Rey can completely focus on the semifinals and give it a proper go to secure their first ever trophy. Leganes will be joined by the likes of Sevilla, Valencia and FC Barcelona/Espanyol in the semifinals.
Key stat: Leganes became the first team ever to beat Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey after losing the first leg at home.
#2 Real Madrid ignored the alarm bells
It is safe to say that Real Madrid had a favourable draw in the domestic competition until they were dumped. Fuenlabrada, Numancia and Leganes are not the kinds of opponents that the back to back European champions' would fear. But do you know what the common point between all three aforementioned teams is?
Real Madrid failed to beat all three of their cup opponents at the Bernabeu. Absolute shambles! Though the previous two draws didn't hurt Madrid, this result against Leganes definitely will. The 1-0 win over Leganes in the first leg was also not convincing with Marco Asensio scoring in the dying stages of the game.
The winner in the 88th minute papered over the cracks and ultimately led to this defeat in the second leg.
Based on their performances so far in the competition, barring one, Zinedine Zidane cannot say that he wasn't warned. His team selections, and tactics have failed him and the weekend's 7-1 demolition of Deportivo proved to be nothing but false hope after this result.
#1 The end is near for Zinedine Zidane
After the defeat, Sergio Ramos came to his manager's defence and proclaimed that all the players are ready to stand up for the manager. Zidane also admitted that his job was on the line after the Leganes defeat and took responsibility for the Copa del Rey exit.
The manager has come under insane scrutiny this season which is set to intensify after this defeat. Zidane has failed miserably this season, there are no two ways about it. Copa del Rey was supposed to get him out of the firing line for some time at least, but the manager chose to do the exact opposite with his tactics and team selection.
Real Madrid are 19 points behind FC Barcelona in the league, are out of the cup competition, and face Neymar's Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League in less than three weeks.
The media have predicted that the tie against the Parisiens will be Zidane's last chance to salvage his job. But that looks like a monumental task for this Madrid side who are in a complete mess right now.
The question on everyone's mind now is: when will Florentino Perez run out of patience with his favoured man? If it was not for Zinedine Zidane, any other manager in the world would have got his marching orders by now.
But to be completely honest, Zidane's departure should now rest on 'when' rather than 'why'. This surely is and has been Zinedine Zidane's lowest point as the manager of Real Madrid.
