Talavera 2-3 Real Madrid: More questions than answers for Alonso in Copa del Rey victory over side from Primera Federacion
Kylian Mbappe scored two and forced an own goal for a third to send Real Madrid past Talavera and into the Copa del Rey last 16, but the club hierarchy, already keeping close scrutiny on Xabi Alonso, might be less than pleased at the manner of the victory.
Alonso’s side were pushed to the limit by opponents who came back twice and threatened to drag the tie into extra time with virtually the last action of the game.
Madrid made nine changes from the weekend’s league win at Alaves but still had a lot of first team talent in the side, with Arda Guler and Mbappe retained to keep the attacking edge.
Both sides had some good chances. Marcos Moreno headed just wide from a Pitu cross for Talavera, while Gonzalo Di Renzo later fired narrowly past Andriy Lunin’s post as the side from the Primera Federacion fed off the energy inside the ground. Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia had a few chances but, in keeping with the story of the season, it was Mbappe who dragged his side away from crisis.
Marcos Moreno was penalised for handball and Mbappe converted from the spot to give Madrid the lead with 41 minutes played. Four minutes later, the France forward created Madrid’s second, dragging Talavera players down the left and forcing his way into the box near the byline to squeeze the shot in, although it was helped in by goalkeeper Jaime Gonzalez.
The tie appeared settled in the second half, especially after Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo had come on. But Talavera pulled a goal back with 10 minutes to go in normal time, after Nahuel Arroyo arrived at the back post to finish from close range.
Mbappe restored Madrid’s two-goal cushion in eight minutes later when Gonzalez failed to save a straightforward strike from distance. But Talavera scored again in stoppage time when Isaiah Navarro curled a superb free kick onto the post and Gonzalo Di Renzo was on hand to turn in the rebound.
Then Lunin produced a brilliant reflex save to claw Navarro’s header away and preserve Madrid’s lead in what was virtually the last action of the game.
