Cillessen was in excellent form and is Valencia’s first choice this season. He also returned to the Dutch national team under national coach Louis van Gaal and was in the starting lineup in the last international match against Norway in November. The former Ajax goalkeeper then replaced the injured Justin Bijlow.
Real Sociedad at the expense of Atlético Madrid to quarterfinals
Atlético Madrid’s cup adventure in Spain is over. The team of coach Diego Simeone went down in the eighth finals on Wednesday at Real Sociedad, which was responsible for the elimination of PSV in the Europa League last month.
The Belgian Adnan Januzaj opened the score for Sociedad after more than half an hour. Alexander Sørloth, former FC Groningen player, doubled the lead shortly after the break. Atlético couldn’t argue with that anymore.
Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will play in the eighth finals of the Spanish cup tournament on Thursday.
Germany: Hanover eliminates Borussia Mönchengladbach in cup tournament
Borussia Mönchengladbach was surprised in the eighth finals of the German Cup tournament by Hannover 96. The current number 12 in the Bundesliga lost 3-0 to the number 12 in the second Bundesliga.
Maximilian Beier scored two goals for Hanover. Sebastian Kerk used a penalty between those two goals. Mark Diemers, who is hired by Hanover from Feyenoord, remained on the reserve bench.
RB Leipzig did make it to the quarterfinals. The team of trainer Domenico Tedesco won 2-0 against Hansa Rostock. Solomon Owusu Bonnah, an 18-year-old player from Ajax’s youth academy, came on shortly before time for Leipzig.
Orange goalkeeper Mark Fleks was also successful with SC Freiburg. The Limburger won with his team 4-1 at Hoffenheim. Fleks played the entire game.
Hertha BSC, with substitute Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, stranded in the eighth finals. The home match against Union Berlin ended in 2-3.
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were previously eliminated from the German Cup.
France: Botman and Lille extend unbeaten status to nine matches
Lille is slowly creeping up in the French football league. The reigning champion defeated FC Lorient 3-1 on Wednesday and has now been unbeaten for nine games in a row.
The Dutch defender Sven Botman played the entire game at Lille, which led after half an hour with three goals difference. Isaac Lihadji, Moritz Jenz and Reinildo Mandava scored. Only in stoppage time of the second half Lorient did something back via Sambou Soumano.
Lille has risen to eighth place through the long unbeaten run. The gap to number 2 OGC Nice is 7 points.