A few days after its heavy defeat in the final of the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona (2-5), Real Madrid returned to the pitch. This Thursday evening, the Merengue made an appointment with Celta de Vigo, for the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. Carlo Ancelotti’s men clearly did not reassure.
They thought they were heading quietly towards the quarter-finals of the Spanish national cup, after goals from Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior. Celta de Vigo, however, managed to win extra time at a very complicated end to the second half for the Merengue. Real Madrid still managed to get through after extra time, thanks to a double from Endrick and a goal from Federico Valverde, but still did not convince (5-2 after). Discover the notes of the Madrilenians in this article!
Andriy Lunin’s evening was very calm for a long time. The last bastion of Real Madrid did not really need to stand out during the first act. However, he was reassuring on his outings, anticipating a few long balls from Celta de Vigo.
However, his match could have taken another turn just before Kylian Mbappé opened the score (37th). He comes close to conceding a penalty by going into the feet of an opposing attacker, but the referee ultimately doesn’t flinch.
Note his beautiful save 20 minutes from the end of regulation time. He nevertheless made his fans tremble with a handball in the 73rd minute of play, even if the action was ultimately canceled for offside. He can’t do much about reducing the score for Celta de Vigo (83rd), but also about the equalizing penalty at the end of the second half.
Lucas Vazquez is unlikely to reassure his fans at the end of this meeting. He is still struggling as much at the right-back position. Its placement sometimes leaves something to be desired. He is not necessarily very well placed on the penalty conceded by Raul Asencio at the end of the second half.
After the last complicated performances of Aurélien Tchouaméni in the central hinge, it was Raul Asencio who was aligned next to Antonio Rüdiger. And the young talent from Real Madrid has long scored points in the central hinge.
Most of the meeting he was very authoritative and strong. He was never afraid to put his foot down to clear dangerous balls. He was able to do it in the 8th, 13th, 41st or even the 87th minute of play. He did not skimp on his efforts and clearly set an example.
However, he showed himself to be too authoritarian in added time of the second half and allowed Celta de Vigo to snatch extra time from the penalty spot. A mistake that was costly for the young talent who had had a very good match up to that point.
Antonio Rüdiger was not the most reassuring in the central hinge. At the moment, the Real Madrid central defender is far from his best level. It is sometimes on the limit, like just before the Merengue opened the score. He still cleared an important ball in front of his goal, in the 69th minute of play. He could have restored the advantage to his team at the end of the first act of extra time, but his attempt, following a corner, hit the post.
Fran Garcia was solid in her lane. As usual, the Real Madrid left-back did not skimp on his efforts. He went back and forth. Not always served by his attackers, he still put in a good performance, showing himself to be very effective in defensive tasks. He gives way to Jude Bellingham (NN) in added time of the second half, after Celta de Vigo equalized.
He was eagerly awaited for his return to the midfield. Especially since Aurélien Tchouaméni was entitled to a few whistles from the Santiago-Bernabéu, after some complicated last matches in the central hinge. The French community was able to respond in the best possible way.
Certainly, he lost a few balls which could have been costly (12th and 35th). Apart from that, Aurélien Tchouaméni was very convincing. First, by recovering a good number of balloons. But also by being in the right place at the right time, like at the start of the second half, but also just before the hour mark, to clear dangerous balls.
He was also able to project himself multiple times. He even took his chance a quarter of an hour into the game and forced the opposing goalkeeper to save. To top it off, he is on the last goal of Federico Valverde’s team, during extra time.
It’s a great performance by Dani Ceballos. The Spanish midfielder almost always tries to play simple and that makes the difference. He first finds Fran Garcia behind the defense, thanks to a long ball (2nd). He doesn’t wait to give the ball to Aurélien Tchouaméni, shortly after the half-hour mark, who can cross.
He proved decisive in this round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. It is he who launches Kylian Mbappé on the opening score for Merengue (37th). Furthermore, Dani Ceballos was able to make numerous recoveries in the midfield. He leaves his place to Edward Camavinga (NN) for the last 20 minutes of regulation time. The French midfielder completely misses his pass, in the 83rd minute, and allows Celta de Vigo to restart. A complicated entry for him.
Preferred over Rodrygo or Arda Güler to complete the attacking trio, Brahim Diaz took time to get into his game. In the first half, the Real Madrid winger was too imprecise. He notably misses a nice combination with Luka Modric and Kylian Mbappé (25th), but also a fairly simple control (32nd).
Nothing to make him doubt! Brahim Diaz can always make the difference with a gesture. He first puts the opposing goalkeeper on parade after half an hour of play, before turning into a passer after returning from the locker room. Well found by Kylian Mbappé behind the defense, he launches Vinicius Junior perfectly who makes the break (48th).
He is not far from offering himself another decisive pass, just before the hour mark, by crossing on the head of Kylian Mbappé who does not find the target. 25 minutes from the end of normal time, this time it is he who is launched by Vinicius Junior. He eliminates his opponent with a hook in the area, but his shot is blocked. After a good second period, he leaves his place to Arda Güler (NN) for the last 20 minutes of regulation time. He offers two assists for Endrick in overtime.
He was a Luka Modric of great evenings. The Croatian midfielder was invaluable in the Real Madrid midfield. He knew how to manage the tempo of his team wonderfully. The now 39-year-old can still break lines thanks to his passing quality. He throws, for example, Brahim Diaz perfectly, behind the defense, in the 57th minute of play. He gives up his place for the last ten minutes of regulation time to Federico Valverde (NN). The Uruguayan scores his team’s fourth goal with a heavy strike (112th)!
Suspended for the next day of La Liga, Vinicius Junior was lined up from the start for this round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. The Brazilian winger only showed himself in sequence. He made a nice breakthrough in the 20th minute of play, but was caught just in front of the area.
He will still manage to be decisive after returning from the locker room. In the 48th minute of play, Vinicius Junior is put in the best possible mood by Brahim Diaz and wins his face-to-face. He could have scored a double ten minutes later, but his lob was caught on the line.
He could even have provided an assist for Arda Güler, in the 77th minute of play, but the goal was refused for an offside position. He was replaced at half-time in extra time by Rodrygo (NN).
We are in the process of finding a very great Kylian Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker was once again decisive in this round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. He never stopped stopping and provoking his direct opponents, thanks to his dribbling and his speed. Well launched by Dani Ceballos in the 37th minute, he went solo to score a very good goal and break the deadlock (37th).
Kylian Mbappé is also decisive on the Merengue’s second goal. Eliminating his opponent with a dribble, he gets into the direction of the game and throws Brahim Diaz perfectly who becomes a passer for Vinicius Junior (48th). He could even have scored a new goal, just before the hour mark, but his header went over. It is replaced by Endrick (NN) for the last ten minutes of regulation time. The Brazilian even scored a double in overtime (108th and 120th).
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