A resilient third-tier Talavera pushes the Spanish giants to the brink in a thrilling Spanish Cup clash.
A late brace from Kylian Mbappe rescued Real Madrid from a monumental upset, securing a tense 3-2 victory over third-tier Talavera de la Reina on Wednesday to advance to the Copa del Rey’s last 16. The modest hosts, playing in their 6,000-capacity stadium just 100km from the Spanish capital, pushed the 20-time cup winners to their absolute limit in a night of high drama.
The giant-killing script seemed unlikely when Madrid took a commanding two-goal lead into halftime. Mbappe coolly converted a first-half penalty before a fortunate own goal from Talavera’s Manu Farrando in stoppage time appeared to put the result beyond doubt.
But the home side, embodying the fearless spirit of the cup, roared back in the final stages. Nahuel Arroyo ignited hope for a historic upset by pulling a goal back in the 80th minute, sending the local fans into a frenzy. Just as the tension peaked, Mbappe seemed to have extinguished the dream with a powerful strike from outside the box two minutes from time.
Yet Talavera refused to surrender. In a fitting climax, Gonzalo Di Renzo scored in the first minute of added time, ensuring the underdogs went down with a heroic fight that left the mighty visitors deeply relieved at the final whistle.
The night was marked by shocks elsewhere, as top-flight teams stumbled. High-flying Villarreal fell 2-1 to second-division Racing Santander, while Celta Vigo were dumped out on penalties by Albacete after a 2-2 draw. Atletico Madrid survived a scare of their own, edging fourth-tier Baleares 3-2 in Palma.
Real Madrid’s narrow escape, sealed by their superstar’s decisive intervention, underscores the unpredictable magic of the cup, where pedigree offers no guarantees against heart and hunger.
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