Following Real Madrid's hard-fought 3-2 victory over third-division Talavera in the Copa del Rey, manager Xabi Alonso stood by his decision to keep Kylian Mbappé on for all 93 minutes despite the late scare, praising the forward's goal-scoring impact amid a gritty comeback attempt by the hosts.
In a match that saw Real Madrid surge to a 2-0 halftime lead via Mbappé's penalty and an own goal off his cross—before Talavera clawed back to 3-2 with strikes from Nahuel Arroyo and Gonzalo Di Renzo—Los Blancos held firm thanks to Andriy Lunin's stoppage-time heroics on the line.
As detailed in earlier coverage, Madrid dominated possession but faced stout resistance and counters from the Primera RFEF side. Post-match, Alonso dismissed any shock at the tension: "Shocked by this game? No, I expected this—for Talavera, this is a unique game."
Addressing criticism over Mbappé's minutes amid a packed schedule, Alonso was unequivocal: "Why Mbappé played 93 minutes? Because he scores goals." He urged his squad toward greater maturity: "We need to be more mature and consistent throughout the game."
The win advances Madrid but underscores ongoing inconsistencies under Alonso, avoiding a potential upset in the round of 32.
