Copa Del Rey: Real Madrid Survive Against Third-Tier Talavera De La Reina As Mbappe Shines

Last Updated:December 18, 2025, 09:34 IST

French superstar Mbappe netted twice, either side of a Manuel Farrando own goal, as Nahuel Arroyo and Gonzalo Di Renzo’s strikes went in vain.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Talavera and Real Madrid, in Talavera de la Reina, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/M. Berengui)

Real Madrid huffed and puffed to get over the line in their Copa Del Rey Round of 32 fixture against third-tier Talavera De La Reina on Wednesday as the Capital City side posted a 2-3 win on the road to secure progress.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe netted twice, either side of a Manuel Farrando own goal, as Nahuel Arroyo and Gonzalo Di Renzo’s strikes went in vain.

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Mbappe opened the scoring as he converted a spot kick in the 41st minute of the game before Farando turned the ball into his own net in the first half stoppage time.

Talavera pulled on back through Arroyo in the 80th minute of the game only to watch Mbappe put the ball into the back of the net eight minutes later to extend Madrid’s lead before Di Renzo netted in the first minute of second-half additional time to give Xabi Alonso and Co. and nervy finish, but Los Blancos held on to their slender lead in the final embers of the game to seal their spot in the subsequent round.

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High-flying La Liga team Villarreal suffered a 2-1 defeat against second-tier Racing Santander.

Another second-division club, Albacete, celebrated knocking out La Liga’s Celta Vigo 3-0 on penalties after the match ended 2-2 following extra time.

Fourth-tier side Baleares put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell to a 3-2 defeat against 10-time Cup winners Atletico Madrid in Palma, the capital of Mallorca.

Another La Liga team, Osasuna, needed extra time to overcome second-tier Huesca with a 4-2 victory.

On Tuesday, Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford scored late for Barcelona in their 2-0 win over third-tier Guadalajara.

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