Real Madrid cruise into Copa del Rey quarterfinals
Despite squandering a 2-0 lead at home, Los Blancos showed their resilience in extra time to seal the win.
KATHMANDU: Real Madrid secured their place in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals with a thrilling 5-2 victory over Celta Vigo on Thursday.
Despite squandering a 2-0 lead at home, Los Blancos showed their resilience in extra time to seal the win.
The game took a dramatic turn when Jonathan Bamba and Marcos Alonso brought Celta Vigo back into contention. Alonso’s penalty in injury time forced the match into an additional 30 minutes.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Madrid in the 37th minute, while Vinícius Júnior doubled the lead shortly after halftime.
However, Celta’s late resurgence, led by Bamba’s 83rd-minute strike and Alonso’s equalizer, silenced the home crowd temporarily.
In extra time, Endrick’s 108th-minute goal reignited Madrid’s momentum.
Federico Valverde added another four minutes later, and Endrick sealed the victory with a second goal just before the final whistle.
Elsewhere, Osasuna edged past Athletic Club with a 3-2 win, while Real Sociedad defeated Rayo Vallecano 3-1 to book their quarterfinal spots.
Madrid’s performance, highlighted by contributions from rising stars and seasoned players, solidifies their intent to reclaim the Copa del Rey title.
