JAKARTA - Real Madrid struggled to win 3-2 over third division club CF Talavera de la Reina in the Copa del Rey 32-team round. However, coach Xabi Alonso did not question the process of winning because the important thing was that Madrid qualified for the 16th round.
Madrid's match against third division club CF Talavera de la Reina was not easy: Laga was not easy for Madrid even though they faced a team from the lower division who performed at home at El Prado Stadium, Thursday, December 18, 2025 WIB. In the first half, Talavera's goal was scored by Kylian Mbappe.
Madrid also couldn't kill Talavera's power in the second half. Even the hosts were able to reduce the gap.
Beruntung Mbappe was able to score a brace that solidified Madrid's lead to 3-1. Talavera's late goal finally closed the match to 3-2 which took Madrid to the next round.
Even though they won, Madrid, which is one of the elite teams in Spain's LaLiga, was unable to show their maximum performance.
"It's just that Alonso remained satisfied with the final result of the match. It's difficult to kill the opponent, but Alonso said the most important victory. Moreover, the Copa del Rey is not a tournament that is easy to pass by.
"This kind of thing happens often in the Copa del Rey. We've experienced it. So have other teams. This 3-1 win is very important. We could have conceded and they put pressure on us. Talavera showed their best performance," Alonso told Football Espana.
According to him, Madrid was able to dominate the game throughout the first half. It's just that Talavera was able to give a fight so that Madrid had to work hard to overcome it.
"We completely controlled the match in the first half. It's just that we had trouble scoring a goal to win 3-0 in an open game. It must be admitted that this is a tight competition so it feels special. But the important thing is that the target is achieved, namely to qualify and we'll see how the next round goes," said Alonso.
"Our target is of course to qualify for the next round. We managed to complete it. This makes me satisfied and happy. However, we still have shortcomings and I have said it many times before. Our performance must be more consistent in the match. If the match is drawn, anything can happen," he said again.
"We have to admit that the goal from the French national team captain helped Los Merengues win the game," Alonso admitted in response to Mbappe's important role and his success in scoring two goals.
"He scored two decisive goals. Our third goal was the key and kept us alive. Rodrygo also played a big role in this game. We do need players who can play efficiently. We had a lot of chances and could have scored more goals," said Alonso.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who stood under the crossbar in the match, assessed that the fight in the Copa del Rey was indeed not easy.
"It's not easy to qualify for the next round. This competition is different from different matches. I certainly hope not to concede in this match," said Lunin.
"But what is certain is that we have qualified for the last 16 and will continue to fight in this competition," said Lunin, who replaced Thibaut Courtois in the match.
"I think it's a bit strange that they think they doubt the coach's ability," he said. "I think the players are surprised that they are considered to doubt the coach's ability.
"I don't know who doubts Xabi. We ourselves have never doubted our coach at all. I don't know who questioned his performance, whether it was fans or the media. Whatever, it didn't bother us because we focused on our work," he said.
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