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The Copa del Rey Round of 32 match between CF Talavera de la Reina (a third-division team in the Primera RFEF) and Real Madrid was played on December 17, 2025, at the El Prado Municipal Stadium.
Real Madrid won by a narrow margin (2-3), advancing to the Round of 16, but suffered a scare in the final minutes.
Goalscorers:
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) – 40′ (penalty) and 87′ (long-range shot)
Manu Farrando (Talavera) – 45′ (own goal)
Nahuel Arroyo (Talavera) – 79′
Gonzalo Di Renzo (Talavera) – 90+2′
Real Madrid dominated possession and created chances early on, but struggled to break down Talavera’s defense. They went into halftime with a 2-0 lead, extended it to 3-1, and conceded two goals in the final minutes, requiring crucial saves from Andriy Lunin to keep the score level.
Regarding Real Madrid: The victory avoided a major embarrassment, as elimination against a third-division team threatened by relegation would have been one of the biggest upsets in Copa del Rey history.
However, the lackluster performance exposed persistent problems: defensive fragility, a lack of intensity after substitutions, and an over-reliance on stars like Mbappé (who played the full 90 minutes despite recent injuries).
This fueled criticism from fans and the media regarding coach Xabi Alonso’s tactics and the team’s overall form.
Regarding Talavera: A heroic display brought immense pride to the club and its fans. Scoring two goals against the reigning European champions provided them with significant visibility, potential financial benefits (ticket sales, media attention), and a morale boost despite their struggles in the league.
Overall: This came in a round with several upsets and draws (for example, Villarreal’s elimination by a second-division side), highlighting the “magic of the cup,” where smaller teams face off against giants.
Progression: Real Madrid advance to the Copa del Rey round of 16, keeping their treble hopes alive, in addition to their La Liga and Champions League commitments.
Records: Mbappé’s brace took his 2025 tally to 58, bringing him closer to breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s calendar-year records.
Team concerns: Increased scrutiny has been placed on Real Madrid’s squad depth, rotation policy, and consistency. Fans expressed frustration online, with some questioning the players’ effort and the manager’s decisions.
For Talavera: The elimination ends their cup run, but the performance could inspire their league fight against relegation and attract interest in the players.
Real Madrid’s victory was more of a relief than a celebration, highlighting that individual brilliance (Mbappé’s goals, Lunin’s saves) masked collective shortcomings.
The match served as a wake-up call for the team amidst a demanding schedule, emphasizing the need for greater focus against the underdogs.
For Spanish football, it reinforced the appeal of the Copa del Rey as a competition full of excitement and potential defeats, even if the favorites narrowly survived this time.
