Real Madrid narrowly avoided a shocking exit from the Copa del Rey, scraping past Talavera 3‑2 in a match that revealed deep flaws under coach Xabi Alonso.
For the opening 40 minutes, the underdogs dictated the rhythm. Talavera defended with discipline, countered with sharp intent, and came close twice to breaking the deadlock. Marcos Moreno’s header in the 18th minute forced goalkeeper Andriy Lunin into a corner‑saving stretch, while Gonzalo Di Renzo’s shot moments later missed the post by inches.
Madrid’s escape came only through the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe. Just before halftime, Moreno handled the ball in the box, and Mbappe calmly converted the penalty. Minutes later, his burst down the left created chaos, leading Manuel Farrando to score an own goal, giving Madrid a 2‑0 cushion at the break.
Yet Talavera refused to surrender. Nahuel Arroyo pulled one back, forcing Madrid to defend nervously. Mbappe struck again in the 88th minute, seemingly sealing the contest, but Di Renzo’s stunning free kick in stoppage time reignited the drama. In the dying seconds, Isaiah Navarro nearly forced extra time with a close‑range header, only for Lunin to deliver a heroic save that preserved Madrid’s fragile victory.
Mbappe’s brace lifted his 2025 tally to 58 goals, leaving him just one shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic record of 59 goals in a calendar year at Real Madrid. With Sevilla looming at the weekend, the French star still has a chance to etch his name into history.
Despite advancing, Madrid’s performance was far from convincing. Alonso rotated nine players from the side that beat Alaves, keeping only Mbappe and Arda Güler. The win spared Madrid from humiliation, but it underscored growing concerns about their form, stability, and over‑reliance on Mbappe’s brilliance. From one angle, it was a heroic rescue; from another, it was a warning sign that the cracks in the Royal Whites are widening.
