Real Madrid survived a late scare from third-division side Talavera to secure a 3-2 victory in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, with Kylian Mbappe once again proving to be the difference-maker.
Mbappe, in sensational form, opened the scoring by converting a penalty in the 41st minute and later sealed the win with a stunning long-range strike in the second half, marking his 10th goal in just six matches across all competitions for Madrid. The French superstar was also pivotal in the play that led to an own goal by Talavera’s Manuel Farrando during first-half stoppage time, giving Madrid an early edge.
“He was decisive,” praised Madrid coach Xabi Alonso. “Kylian has that knack for scoring. The third goal was key, which is why we kept him on the pitch and why he started.”
Talavera fought valiantly, with Nahuel Arroyo reducing the deficit in the 80th minute and Gonzalo Di Renzo adding a stoppage-time goal to nearly force a dramatic upset. However, Madrid held on thanks to a crucial last-minute save by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, preserving their lead and advancing to the next round.
Despite the narrow finish, Madrid dominated for most of the match, even while resting some of their regular starters. Alonso reflected on the tight finish, saying, “In the first half, we controlled the game well and took the lead, but not making it 3-0 left the game open, and it remained that way until the end. The second half was competitive. We looked for the third goal earlier and had chances, but it wasn’t to be. It was an exciting tie. It’s a special competition. Objective achieved, and on to the next game.”
Looking ahead, Real Madrid will round off 2025 with a Spanish league clash against Sevilla on Saturday, hoping to carry forward the momentum from Mbappe’s inspired performance.