Kylian Mbappe was once again the match-winner as Real Madrid narrowly escaped an upset against third-division Talavera, winning 3-2 in the Copa del Rey round of 32 on Wednesday.
The French superstar opened the scoring with a penalty in the 41st minute and later secured the win with a stunning strike from outside the area, marking his 10th goal in his last six games for Madrid. Mbappe was also involved in Talavera’s first-half own-goal by Manuel Farrando during stoppage time.
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso praised his star forward: “He was decisive. Kylian has that knack for scoring. The third goal was key, which is why we kept him on the pitch and why he started.”
Despite Madrid’s control for most of the match, Talavera made things tense late. Nahuel Arroyo reduced the deficit in the 80th minute, followed by Gonzalo Di Renzo’s stoppage-time goal, bringing the score dangerously close. A crucial save by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in the final minute preserved Madrid’s victory.
Madrid, missing a few regular starters, had dominated the first half but admitted chances were missed to fully secure the game earlier. Alonso said, “In the first half, we controlled the game well and took the lead, but not making it 3-0 left the game open. The second half was competitive. It was an exciting tie. Objective achieved, and now we move on to the next match.”
With this win, Madrid avoids a shocking Copa exit and ends the year on a positive note before facing Sevilla in the Spanish league this weekend. Mbappe’s brilliance continues to be pivotal for Madrid as they aim to regain momentum after recent inconsistent results.
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