Into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals

Real Madrid made it through to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, overcoming Celta in a hard-fought match that was settled in extra time thanks to Endrick’s brace and another from Valverde. Earlier, our team had taken a 2-0 lead after a stunning finish from Mbappé and another from Vini Jr. However, the Galicians equalised in the final minutes through Bamba and Marcos Alonso from the penalty spot. On January 20th, Ancelotti's side will learn who their opponent will be in the next round of the competition.

Celta gave an early warning with Marcos Alonso’s deflected header (5'). Madrid's response came in the next play with a Modrić shot from the edge of the area ending up in Villar’s hands. Once again, the visiting goalkeeper had to be at his best to keep out a long-range right-footed drive from Tchouameni before the quarter-hour mark. Madrid patiently prodded their opponent looking for a goal and in the 30th minute came close, this time it was Brahim who found himself up against Villar but the keeper blocked superbly with his foot from the Malaga-born forward’s fizzed shot across goal.

Mbappé's goalSeven minutes later, our team took the lead after individual brilliance from Mbappé. The striker picked up a pass from Ceballos in his own half, drove into the box with a mazy run and, after bamboozling his marker with several bicycles, unleashed a left-footed shot from a tight-angle to make it 1-0. The sixteenth Real Madrid goal for the Frenchman, who has now scored in six different competitions in our shirt.

As soon as the second half got underway, Madrid widened the gap in a lightning-fast move. Mbappé played a good pass behind the defense for Brahim, who teed up Vini Jr. for a right-footed finish to make it 2-0 (48'). From that point on, the game picked up pace and our opponent's goal came under even more threat.  In the 57th minute, Mbappé headed over from Brahim's cross and in the next move, Starfelt cleared a Vini Jr. lob off the line with Villar beaten.

Celta draw levelThe Vigo outfit started to come more into the game and in the 70th minute, Lunin made a good save to keep out Sotelo's long-range effort. Seven minutes later, it was Ancelotti's side's turn. Arda Güler increased the lead when he converted a Vini Jr. pass, but the goal was disallowed for offside. From 3-0 it was 2-2. Bamba pulled one back in the 83rd minute and, in stoppage time, he then won a penalty that Marcos Alonso dispatched to send the game into extra time.

Extra time decides itIt was not until the end of the first half of extra time that Real Madrid had the clearest chance to get back on top with Rüdiger hitting the post with his shoulder from an Arda Güler corner. Madrid went all out in the second half of extra time. In the 107th minute, Endrick's left-footed shot flew into the back of the net. Madrid were not done at 3-2 and, soon after, Valverde hammered a tremendous right-footed shot from outside the box into the top corner to make it 4-2. Endrick made it 5-2 in the closing stages, registering his first brace for Madrid. The Brazilian took advantage of a loose ball in the six-yard box and finished past Villar with a beautiful backheel. Real Madrid now wait to discover the identity of our quarter-final opponent in the Copa del Rey.