Real Madrid secured a hard-fought victory against spirited minnows Talavera in the Copa del Rey, advancing to the Round of 16 after a 3-2 win. The match, held at Estadio El Prado, proved to be an unexpectedly tough cup tie for Los Blancos, with Kylian Mbappé emerging as the hero through a decisive brace.

Real Madrid started by dominating the opening exchanges, and their persistence paid off in the 41st minute when Kylian Mbappé was fouled inside the box. Mbappé calmly converted the resulting penalty, putting his team 1-0 ahead. Just moments later, in first-half stoppage time, Real Madrid doubled their advantage when Manuel Farrando inadvertently turned a dangerous cutback into his own net, sending the visitors into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

However, Talavera refused to surrender. In the 80th minute, Nahuel Arroyo pulled one back for the hosts, giving them a glimmer of hope for a potential upset. But Mbappé quickly extinguished those hopes, restoring Real Madrid's two-goal cushion in the 88th minute with a clinical strike from outside the area, making the score 3-1. This crucial goal ensured that Gonzalo Di Renzo's late strike for Talavera in second-half stoppage time would not force the match into extra time.

Real Madrid ultimately managed the closing moments to secure the victory and their progression in the Copa del Rey. This win also marked a significant milestone for the team, as they have now won consecutive matches for the first time since the first of November, building momentum in their campaign.