Goals from Daley Blind and Yan Couto fired Girona into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 win away to Segunda Division Elche.

Blind and Couto scored in either half for the LaLiga title challengers but Elche, 12th in Spain’s second tier, had a total of 22 attempts on goal without finding a way to beat visiting goalkeeper Juan Carlos.

Girona coach Michel made five changes from the side that beat Atletico Madrid 4-3 last time out, with match-winner Ivan Martin among those to keep their places.

Elche took the game to their high-flying opponents from the off, with John Donald, Mario Gaspar and Tete Morente all threatening in the early going.

Blind, also on the scoresheet against Atletico in midweek, dropped to the bench but was brought into the action on the half-hour mark after an injury to Eric Garcia, and within seven minutes the former Manchester United player was back among the goals.

Jhon Solis tried to turn Portu’s corner goalwards and the ball fell for Blind to finish from close range.

Elche returned for the second half seeming reinvigorated and again had a string of chances, as Gaspar, Nicolas Fernandez and Rodrigo Mendoza all had opportunities to bring them level.

But they were struggling to test the goalkeeper, all too often firing wide, and it was Girona who looked more likely to score as Valery Fernandez tested Miguel San Roman from a tight angle before Juanpe headed narrowly wide from a corner.

Morente forced a save from Juan Carlos in the 66th minute, and moments later Girona were 2-0 up as they went down to the other end where Couto fired in from the edge of the box.

A string of substitutions disrupted the flow of the game and it was Elche who finished on top, creating more opportunities for Fernandez, Josan and Nicolas Castro without being able to capitalise on any of them.

When Mendoza was denied by Juan Carlos from close range in the 81st minute there was a sense their best chance of getting back into the game had gone, and there was a late chance for Miguel Gutierrez to add a third for the visitors but his shot was saved.