Real Madrid are into the next round of the Copa del Rey, but they had to dig deep to avoid a major upset away at El Prado, where Talavera pushed Xabi Alonso’s side all the way to the final whistle.
Alonso named a strong XI and Madrid eventually made their quality count before half-time. The opener arrived on 42 minutes from the spot, as Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty after a controversial handball decision inside the area. Real doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time when Mbappé burst down the by-line and his cutback was turned into the net by Manuel Farrando for an own goal.
Talavera refuse to fold
The hosts didn’t go quietly. With around 10 minutes left, Talavera pulled one back when Farrando atoned with a delivery that found Nahuel Arroyo, whose effort squeezed past Andriy Lunin to make it 2–1.
Mbappé looked to have wrapped it up late on, scoring again on 88 minutes—though it was a moment Talavera keeper Jaime González will want to forget. But the drama wasn’t finished.
Talavera struck again to make it 3–2, as Gonzalo Di Renzo followed in after a shot crashed off the crossbar, setting up a frantic finish—yet Madrid held on to book their place in the next round.
What it means for Real Madrid
Progress is progress in the Copa del Rey, but conceding twice against lower-league opposition will fuel the post-match talking points. Madrid got the job done, Mbappé delivered the difference, and Alonso moves on—but the defensive looseness at the end will be hard to ignore.
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