Madrid Giants Survive Late Scares As Copa Del Rey Drama Grips Spain

Real Madrid escaped Toledo with their Copa del Rey hopes intact after edging third tier side CF Talavera de la Reina 3-2 in one of the most dramatic ties of the round, a match that left the Spanish giants relieved rather than satisfied.

Xabi Alonso’s side appeared to be cruising after a strong end to the first half. For 40 minutes Talavera defended heroically, throwing bodies in front of everything and frustrating Madrid, with goalkeeper Jaime Gonzalez producing a string of outstanding saves. That resistance finally cracked when Marcos Moreno handled a corner inside the box, allowing Kylian Mbappe to calmly slot home the resulting penalty. Barely a minute later, Madrid doubled their lead in fortunate fashion as Manuel Farrando turned Mbappe’s low cutback into his own net.

At 2-0 down, the gap in class seemed to be telling, but Talavera refused to fold. With Madrid unable to add a third, the home side sensed belief and were rewarded in the 80th minute. Farrando made amends for his earlier own goal with a surging run down the right and a perfectly weighted low cross that substitute Nahuel Arroyo finished clinically at the back post to ignite the Estadio El Prado.

Any hopes of a miracle appeared crushed eight minutes later when Mbappe struck from distance, his low effort squeezing under Gonzalez to restore a two goal cushion. Yet even then Talavera would not go quietly. Deep into stoppage time, Isaiah Navarro’s dipping free kick crashed off the underside of the crossbar and Gonzalo Di Renzo reacted quickest to smash home and set up a frantic finale.

In the dying seconds, Talavera came within inches of completing one of the greatest upsets in Spanish cup history, only for Andriy Lunin to produce a stunning point blank save to deny Navarro and spare Madrid from humiliation. Despite progressing, questions remain around Alonso, whose side once again showed defensive fragility against vastly inferior opposition.

Earlier in the evening, Atletico Madrid were also given a serious scare as they edged Atletico Baleares 3-2 at Estadio Balear, surviving a late penalty and several nervy moments to avoid extra time.

Diego Simeone’s men made a fast start, taking the lead through Antoine Griezmann before Giacomo Raspadori doubled the advantage inside 20 minutes. Atletico Baleares responded through Gerardo Bonet from a corner to pull one back and ensure the contest remained alive heading into the second half.

Griezmann restored Atletico’s two goal cushion midway through the second period, but the tie refused to settle. Baleares were handed a lifeline in the final minute when Mouhamadou Keita converted a late penalty, setting up a tense stoppage time where the hosts pressed desperately for an equaliser.

Atletico held firm to see out the remaining seconds, but like their city rivals, they were left with plenty to reflect on after being pushed hard by opponents from far lower down the football pyramid.

With both Madrid clubs safely through but far from convincing, the Copa del Rey once again underlined its reputation as a competition where reputation counts for little and where the giants are always one moment away from embarrassment.