Mbappé Rescues Real Madrid After a Night of Tension in Talavera
What was supposed to be a routine Copa del Rey night turned into another anxious chapter for Real Madrid, and once again, it was Kylian Mbappé who stepped in to save the day. Madrid survived a scare in Talavera, winning 3–2, but the scoreline barely reflects how uncomfortable the evening became for Xabi Alonso’s side.
From the start, it was clear this was not going to be a calm outing. Talavera, a modest side playing in front of an excited home crowd, embraced the occasion with energy and belief. Real Madrid dominated possession, as expected, but control never translated into peace. The ball was moved patiently, chances were created, yet the sense of fragility lingered, as if one mistake could ignite chaos.
The breakthrough eventually came through Mbappé, who converted a controversial penalty just before halftime. Relief followed moments later when his low cross forced an own goal, and suddenly Madrid were 2–0 up. On paper, the tie looked settled. In reality, the danger was only being postponed.
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Talavera refused to disappear. After the break, Madrid eased off, attacks became slower, and the intensity dropped. That shift was felt immediately. The home side pushed higher, fed by belief and noise from the stands. When Nahuel Arroyo pulled one back, doubt spread quickly across Madrid’s defensive line.
Mbappé responded like only a world-class forward can. With the match tightening and nerves growing, he struck again late on, scoring his second goal of the night and lifting his incredible 2025 tally to 58. It should have been the final word. It wasn’t.
Talavera came back yet again, scoring a second goal in the dying minutes and throwing everything forward in search of a miracle. Madrid were forced deep, time was being begged for, and Andriy Lunin suddenly became the most important player on the pitch. His late save, stretching every inch to deny an equaliser, prevented extra time and potential disaster.
When the final whistle arrived, Madrid were through to the next round, but the mood felt far from triumphant. Mbappé had carried the team once more, playing the full 90 minutes despite questions over fatigue and rotation. Around him, there were flashes of promise from youngsters like Endrick and solid contributions from players fighting for minutes, but the overall picture remained uneasy.
This was not a defeat, but it felt like a warning. The Copa del Rey continues, and Real Madrid move on, yet the feeling persists that survival is being driven more by individual brilliance than collective control. For now, Mbappé has rescued another bad night. How long that can last remains the unanswered question.
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