Real Madrid opened their Copa del Rey campaign with a hard-fought victory over Talavera de la Reina in the Round of 32, overcoming a spirited late comeback attempt from the home side at El Prado Stadium.
Xabi Alonso’s team dominated the first half and eventually broke the deadlock in the 41st minute when Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty after a handball by Marcos Moreno. Real Madrid doubled their advantage just before halftime when Manu Farrando accidentally turned the ball into his own net while trying to clear a dangerous Mbappé move, giving the visitors a comfortable 2–0 lead at the break.
Madrid continued to control possession after halftime and appeared to have sealed the contest in the 88th minute when Mbappé scored his second goal of the night, capitalizing on a rare error by Talavera goalkeeper Jaime González. However, Talavera refused to give up and produced a dramatic response in the closing minutes.
Nahuel Arroyo pulled one back in the 79th minute with a close-range finish at the far post, and deep into stoppage time Gonzalo Di Renzo added another after reacting quickest to a rebound from a free kick that struck the woodwork. The late goals sparked belief among the home supporters, but Real Madrid managed to hold on through the final moments.
Despite the late tension, Real Madrid’s early dominance proved decisive, as they recorded 17 shots in the first half alone and controlled much of the match. Talavera earned widespread praise for their resilience and courage, pushing the European champions until the final whistle in a memorable Copa del Rey night.
Real Madrid advance to the next round, while Talavera exit the competition with pride after a historic performance against one of the world’s most decorated clubs.
