By DPA,
Madrid : Spanish giants Real Madrid were the victims of a giant-killing act, losing 3-2 to third-division side Union Irun in the third round of the King’s Cup.
Real coach Bernd Schuster Thursday fielded a reserve-packed side – featuring the likes of Jerzy Dudek, Christoph Metzelder and Javier Saviola – and was punished with a sobering defeat in the rainy Basque Country.
Irun’s hero was striker Juan Otasegui, who gave them the lead after just two minutes – then made it 2-1 in the 20th minute after the in-form Gonzalo Higuain had levelled for the visitors.
Saviola made it 2-2 for Real in the 54th minute, but supersub Inaki Goikoetxea made it 3-2 in the 64th minute.
The minnows held on for a famous victory, which was celebrated with a euphoric pitch invasion.
Real midfielder Ruben de la Red fainted on the field after just 16 minutes and was taken to hospìtal, where he promptly recovered.
The return leg will be played Nov 12 in Madrid.
Real have not won the King’s Cup since 1993. They were not the only big side to lose against lower-division opposition this week.
Champions League team Villarreal Wednesday were surprisingly thrashed 5-0 by third-division Polideportivo Ejido.
Also Wednesday, Sevilla were beaten 1-0 by Ponferradina.
Holders Valencia, in contrast, won 4-1 at Portugalete. Barcelona Tuesday had won 1-0 down the coast in Benidorm.