Real Madrid held goalless

A shadow Real Madrid [Images] side were fortunate to hang on for a 0-0 draw away to second division Valladolid in the first leg of their King's Cup third round tie on Thursday.

Real, fielding a side packed full of second-string players, lacked ideas against their more ambitious opponents who dominated a disjointed and poor quality match that completed this week's first leg matches.

England [Images] striker Michael Owen [Images] was given his first start under new coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo but had little chance to impress as he barely touched the ball with Real failing to string together many passes.

The visitors spurned their only clear chance of the game when Owen's strike partner Roberto Soldado miscued a close-range shot into the air with the goal at his mercy.

Valladolid took control at the end of the first half and went close to grabbing the lead when leading scorer Aritz Aduriz skimmed the crossbar with a glancing header after Victor had clipped in a fine cross from the right.

The second division side continued to dominate after the break and reserve keeper Cesar was the only Real player to shine as he produced a succession of sharp saves to prevent his team slipping to an embarrassing defeat.

In Wednesday's games Spanish Primera Liga sides Athletic Bilbao and Numancia suffered narrow defeats against lower ranked opponents.

Bilbao, who have won the competition 23 times, slumped to a 2-1 defeat away to third division Lanzarote, while basement side Numancia were beaten 1-0 at second division promotion hopefuls Elche.

Osasuna, however, put themselves on course for a place in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Getafe in the only all-Primera Liga tie on Wednesday.

Atletico Madrid and Real Betis, who also played on Wednesday, gained comfortable 3-1 wins at third division opponents Lorca and Mirandes.

There was better luck for third division giant-killers Gramenet, who knocked out Barcelona and Levante in earlier rounds, as they continued their fine run in the Cup with a 2-0 win over second division Lleida on Tuesday.

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