Real Madrid narrowly avoided an upset in the Copa del Rey round of 32, beating third-division side Talavera 3-2 on Wednesday, thanks to a brilliant brace by Kylian Mbappe.

The French forward converted a 41st-minute penalty and later sealed the victory with a stunning strike from outside the area, marking his 10th goal in his last six appearances across all competitions for Madrid. Mbappe was also instrumental in the buildup to an own-goal by Manuel Farrando in first-half stoppage time.

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Mbappe Shines Amid Tight Contest

“He was decisive,” said Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso. “Kylian has that knack for scoring. The third goal was key, which is why we kept him on the pitch and why he started.”

Talavera, undeterred by the division gap, responded late with goals from Nahuel Arroyo in the 80th minute and Gonzalo Di Renzo in second-half stoppage time, bringing the score to 3-2 and creating tense moments for Madrid.

A crucial save by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in the final minute helped preserve Madrid’s lead and prevent a historic upset.

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Real Madrid’s Performance

Madrid controlled much of the game despite missing several regular starters. Alonso noted:

“In the first half, we controlled the game well and took the lead, but not making it 3-0 left the game open. The second half was competitive. We looked for the third goal earlier and had chances, but it wasn’t to be. It was an exciting tie. Objective achieved, and on to the next game.”

The win allows Madrid to advance to the next round of the Copa del Rey, while Alonso’s side prepares to close 2025 with a league match against Sevilla on Saturday.

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Looking Ahead

Mbappe’s performance underlines his growing influence at Real Madrid, keeping the team competitive in multiple competitions. With the Spanish league and Copa del Rey fixtures ahead, Madrid will rely on their star forward to maintain momentum during a crucial end-of-year stretch.