Three questions and three answers from Talavera de la Reina 2-3 Real Madrid

Real Madrid began their 2025/26 campaign in the Copa del Rey with a 90-minute journey to Talavera de la Reina to take on the Primera RFEF side, emerging with a 3-2 victory which ended with Madridistas biting their nails. Kylian Mbappé scored from a soft penalty in the first half before Manuel Farrando rebounded the ball off his hip and into his own net. Nahuel Arroyo and then Gonzalo Di Renzo then cut Real Madrid’s lead, with Mbappé adding another goal in between, to ensure a nervy finish.

Three answers

1. Which youngsters would be given an opportunity?

Fran González, Javi Navarro, David Jiménez, Victor Valdepeñas, Joan Martínez, Jorge Cestero and Thiago Pitarch were all called up to a strong squad, but only Jiménez would start as he made his first appearance for the first team at right-back and only one youngster, Jorge Cestero, would make it off the bench, only doing so on 87 minutes. Thiago Pitarch was also kitted out and ready to come on for a debut, but the clock ran out and he was sent back to the bench without his big moment. Jiménez did well, holding his own and registering the highest pass completion rate of anyone to play more than 45 minutes with 97%. Given the injury issues impacting Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, the 21-year-old option might not be one that we’ve seen the last of.

2. Would a convincing win help boost Real Madrid’s confidence?

Avoiding an “Alcorconazo” was Xabi Alonso’s number one priority, as he was at the club that fatal night in October 2009, though he wasn’t involved in the matchday squad. While for the most part of this game it felt as though Real Madrid were on track to progress smoothly, without looking to be truly impressive but by getting the job done, the late collapse required a beneficial refereeing decision and some great work by stand-in goalkeeper Andrew Lunin. In the opening weeks of the season, the big positive of the Xabi Alonso era was the defensive solidity, but there was no sign of that here as an experienced defence featuring three first-team regulars looked to be disorganised and go to sleep as Nahuel Arroyo broke through and finished well and Gonzalo di Renzo then reacted quickest to a rebound off the crossbar. This was a win, but it’s hard to imagine a win providing any less of a morale boost.

3.Why did Kylian Mbappé start?

Given that Kylian Mbappé has only not started one game this season, when he was injured against Manchester City, and has only missed 52 minutes of action across the remaining 2,070 minutes available, it was expected that Xabi Alonso might give the Frenchman a break here against third-tier opposition. No. He started, and played the full 90 minutes. Just as confusing was the decision to introduce Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouameni, another two players who have barely missed a minute in the last few months, as substitutes while leading 2-0 on the scoreboard. The only explanation for Mbappé’s presence was the obsession with beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for goals in a calendar year. The Portuguese star recorded 59 in 2013, and with a double here, Mbappé takes his tally to 58. One more goal against Sevilla on Saturday and he’ll equal Cristiano’s stat.

Three questions

1. Why hasn’t Endrick been given more of a chance?

Watching the Brazilian bombing down the flanks in a wide attacker role, there were plenty of Madridistas who will have been wondering why it’s taken until December 17th to really see Endrick get a chance this season. His move to Lyon is only missing official confirmation and it seems likely that he’ll be playing in France on loan come the start of the January transfer window. He created a total of four chances and won more fouls than anyone else, with his pace and ability to take players on immediately offering more than Gonzalo García on the opposite flank. It was the kind of aggressive direction that Endrick brought to the team, often off the bench, last season, but which we have only seen in short bursts this season.

2. Is Xabi Alonso’s sacking inevitable?

The Basque coach cut a dejected figure on the sidelines towards the end of the game. Some bizarre substitutions and selection choices, his demeanour on the bench, and his press conference all gave the impression of a beaten man. Alonso arrived in the summer with lengthy press conference answers, diving into tactical details and with real energy and passion. In comparison, on Wednesday night he started talking about this weekend’s fixture against Mallorca. Saturday’s game is against Sevilla. His answers were blunt, to the point, and his body language was that of a man who couldn’t wait to be out of the hot seat in the press room. At this point, it seems almost certain that he will not remain in the job long-term. The question is, what are Real Madrid waiting for? A poor result to tee up his dismissal? The winter break to avoid having an interim coach? This state of purgatory is not doing anyone any favours, least of all Xabi Alonso whose credit as a coach diminishes with each game.

3.Should the Copa del Rey be a priority this season?

Given the team’s struggles already allowing Barcelona to open up a gap at the top of the table in La Liga, and with the Champions League possibly giving Real Madrid a tricky extra fixture if qualification for the top eight isn’t secured, the chances of silverware are looking increasingly slim. That could mean that this should be a priority competition this season. Real Madrid will once again face a lower-league team in the next round as they will be involved in the Super Cup in January, and while those sides could be anything but easy, such as Segunda high-flyers Racing Santander or Deportivo La Coruña, Real Madrid should be in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals without too much of a challenge. With Barcelona and Atlético Madrid both struggling for squad depth, and with Villarreal already out, this could be Real Madrid’s best shot at a title this season.