Real Madrid advanced with difficulty to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey against Leganés (2-3). A goal from the youth player Gonzalo García (20 years old) saved the 'merengues' from their second consecutive extra time and another embarrassment in the tournament, after the visitors squandered an early two-goal lead at Butarque. The multiple injury absences forced Carlo Ancelotti to field an unprecedented defense, with Fede Valverde as right-back and a central duo formed by youth players Jacobo Ramón and Raúl Asencio. 

The first half was very entertaining, with a brave Leganés finding opportunities to attack the makeshift Madrid defense. Lunin prevented worse outcomes with two spectacular saves and the 'merengue' attack tilted the balance in favor of Carlo Ancelotti's side very early on. However, the pepinero team reduced the deficit before halftime thanks to a penalty.

Madrid went into halftime with a lead they didn't deserve

The team of Borja Jiménez had the first clear chance right at the start of the match. Diego García got behind Jacobo Ramón and Lunin denied the Spanish forward with a low punch. The linesman had raised the flag, but the replay showed that, had he scored, the goal from '19' would have been validated, as there was no offside. The Ukrainian goalkeeper intervened again after a very dangerous free kick from Óscar from the side in the 5'.

Madrid was suffering from Leganés' quick counterattacks and only in the 14' did the players in orange manage to reach the opponent's area. In the 19', when the locals were playing better, a great through ball from Rodrygo found Luka Modric unmarked. The Croatian finished with a strike against the onrushing Soriano to make it 0-1. The goal was a heavy blow for the pepineros, who six minutes later would receive another hit, this time with a goal scored by Endrick, following a wall pass between Rodrygo and Brahim.

Despite the 0-2, Ancelotti's side never gave the impression of having the match under control. In the 38', a clear handball by Jacobo inside the area allowed Juan Cruz to reduce the deficit from the penalty spot, with a well-taken shot that was impossible for Lunin to save despite guessing the side. After the break, 'Carletto' brought on Vinicius for Rodrygo, but the change did not have the expected impact from the Italian.

Juan Cruz's double equalized the match in the second half

'Vini' had two clear chances right after coming on, but between Soriano and a poor finish, they avoided the third 'merengue' goal. Then, it was Endrick who squandered another couple of opportunities, making wrong decisions. In the 59', a shot from Juan Cruz from the edge of the area deflected off Mendy to unsettle Lunin. Against all odds, Leganés came back from a two-goal deficit to level the tie.

The visitors reacted with a long-range shot from Valverde and another clear one-on-one from Vinicius. Borja Jiménez made a substitution with the introduction of Dani Raba for a Juan Cruz who ended up injured. Ancelotti responded by bringing on Dani Ceballos for a missing Arda Güler. Brahim nearly made it 2-3 in the 74' with a shot that hit the crossbar, but it was a through ball from Vinicius. Madrid settled into the opponent's half and the goal seemed imminent.

Gonzalo was Madrid's hero in stoppage time

However, it was Leganés who came closest to taking the lead, with a shot from outside the area by Dani Raba in the 86' that Lunin sent to the corner with difficulty. From the corner, the locals claimed a penalty for handball against the newly introduced Fran García, but the ball hit the chest of the full-back. Madrid responded with two powerful shots from Brahim and Valverde, but Soriano prevented worse outcomes.

When extra time seemed inevitable, a cross from Brahim from the left fell to youth player Gonzalo García, who had come on for Endrick in the 83. The Castilla forward flicked the ball, leaving Soriano frozen and silencing Butarque in the 90+3'. Madrid is in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, with difficulty, many absences, and countless doubts, but still in 'the race' just like Atlético de Madrid, who thrashed Getafe (5-0) on Tuesday.

Technical sheet of the match Leganés 2-3 Real Madrid

  • Leganés, 2: Juan Soriano; Altimira, Rosier, Sergio, Nastasic; Tapia, Neyou, Oscar Rodríguez (De la Fuente, min 80), Juan Cruz (Dani Raba, min. 73), Brasanac; Diego García (Chicco, min. 80).
  • Real Madrid: 3: Lunin; Valverde, Asencio, Jacobo Ramón, Mendy (Fran García, min. 83); Güler (Ceballos, min 76), Tchouaméni, Modric; Brahim, Rodrygo (Vinicius, min. 46) and Endrick (Gonzalo, min. 83).
  • Goals of the match: 0-1, Luka Modric (min. 18); 0-2, Endrick Felipe (min. 25); 1-2, Juan Cruz (min. 39, p.); 2-2, Juan Cruz (min. 59); 2-3, Gonzalo García (min. 90+3).
  • Referee: Alberola Rojas (Committee of Castilla-La Mancha). Awarded a penalty for handball against Jacobo Ramón in the 38th minute. Cautioned Sergio González from Leganés. Also warned Jacobo Ramón, Vinicius, and Modric from Real Madrid.
  • Stadium: Municipal Butarque.
  • Incidents: match corresponding to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey 2024-25.