Real Madrid made it into the quarterfinals of the Spanish cup but it was a very bumpy ride as they came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with a winner four minutes from time.
2022/2023 Copa del Rey
2-3
Match Report
After an awful first half Carlo Ancelotti’s team recovered well but the Italian coach could be seen rollicking Vincius in the first half and furiously rebuking Rodrygo in the second half after he appeared to avoid his coach’s handshake after being taken off.
Villarreal were as bad in the second period as they were brilliant in the first. They also lost their heads after the break with reserve keeper Pepe Reina shouting abuse at Vinicius and earning a booking.
Madrid improved to go through but they were lucky too. Eder Militao appeared to barge Jose Luis Morales over in the penalty area but there was no spot kick and Madrid went straight down the other end to score the winner.
Vinicius started the move releasing Asensio who pulled the ball back to Dani Ceballos who blasted it past Filip Jorgensen to put Real Madrid in front for the first time in the game.
Villarreal had taken the lead after just four minutes. A throw from the right was held up and laid off by Gerard Moreno to Etienne Capoue who powered it past Thibaut Courtois from a tight angle.
So important has the cup become in Madrid’s moment of doubt that Ancelotti had resisted the temptation to play a reserve keeper but the Belgium number one could do nothing to stop the shot.
Madrid could have responded almost immediately but Ferland Mendy opted to square when he was well placed to shoot and from his pass Fede Valverde blazed over.
Madrid were not themselves with too many misplaced passes and a frustrated Vinicius told to track back by an angry Ancelotti. The Brazilian was having a poor first half failed to control a simple long crossfield pass from Eduardo Camavinga.
Madrid could have conceded a second but Nacho blocked Baena’s goalbound shot. The same defender then blocked Yeremy Pino and Baena again. He was holding things together at the back for Madrid.
He couldn’t prevent a deserved second three minutes before the break. Again Moreno pulled the rabbit out of the hat in a crowded penalty area. He looked surrounded by David Alaba, Eder Militao and Camavinga but he saw the gap and clipped the ball through to Samuel Chukwueze who shot high past Courtois.
It was almost three when Alberto Moreno shot from the edge of the box but Courtois tipped over. Barcelona had just finished their game winning 5-0 in Ceuta as Madrid went down the tunnel at the Ceramica – their tie was always going to be harder than Barça’s but one team had gone through and one team was going out of the Copa del Rey.
Ancelotti resisted the temptation to make a change at half time but 10 minutes in to the second period Toni Kroos and Rodrygo were taken off for Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos. Rodrygo did not take the change well.
He avoided Ancelotti as he took his place on the bench. Ancelotti turned to the substituted player and appeared to read the riot act to the 22-year-old who has made little secret of late about not being happy about feeling he is always the first to be taken off.
The change worked immediately. Camavinga played the ball to Benzema and he laid it off to Ceballos who played it through to Vinicius who scored. Vinicius was fully switched on now and when he robbed Villarreal keeper Filip Jorgensen and should have been awarded a corner.
Villarreal were a shadow of their first half selves with the injured Juan Foyth now replaced by Aissa Mandi who was struggling to contain Vinicius. The Brazilian crossed for Madrid’s equalizer with Benzema heading his cross goalwards. Jorgensen saved but pushed the ball out to Militao who turned it in from close range for the equaliser.
Mandi caught Vinicius in the face and the Madrid forward went down. That was when Reina jumped off the bench to swear at Vinicius and earn a booking. Who also appeared to promise to see him at the end of the game. He kept that promise nn the final whistle but when he went to the winger they appeared to make peace.
With or without the reconciliation Vinicius was happy because Madrid were still in the cup - Ancelotti less so, he looked relieved but he will know that all is not well with his team despite this win.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' GOAL! Villarreal 1-0 Real Madrid (Capoue)
13' CLOSE! Benzema’s shot wide out
25' Rodrygo goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
36' CLOSE! Benzema misses a great chance!
36' Yellow Card! Eduardo Camavinga booked
42' GOAL! Villarreal 2-0 Real Madrid (Samuel Chukwueze)
57' GOAL! Villarreal 2-1 Real Madrid (Vinicius)
Line-ups
Villarreal XI: Albiol, Capoue, Parejo, G. Moreno, Moreno, P. Torres, Samuel Chukwueze, Foyth, Álex Baena, Filip Jörgensen, Yeremy
Subs: Reina, Mandi, Mojica, Trigueros, Morales, Manu Morlanes, Jorge Cuenca, Diego Collado, Carlo García, Fer Niño
Real Madrid XI: Benzema, Kroos, Courtois, Nacho, Rudiger, F Mendy, Valverde, Militao, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga
Subs: Hazard, Mariano, Odriozola, Vallejo, Asensio, Ceballos, Andriy Lunin, Luis López, Mario Martín, Vinícius Tobias