Real Madrid 3-2 Leganés (5th February 2025) Game Analysis

A stop-time goal by 20-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia got Real Madrid a hard-fought 3-2 win over low local rivals Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Luka Modric and Endrick gave Real Madrid a two-goal lead with strikes early in the first half, but Juan Cruz reduced the deficit from the penalty in the 39 minutes after a handball inside the box of the real defender Jacobo Ramon.

A deflected strike from Cruz in the 59th minute equalized the match, but replaced Garcia scored the winner of Real in the 93rd minute, and the net a ruted headline from a Brahim Diaz Cross.

Prior to Saturday’s Laliga Derby against second-placed Atletico Madrid and next week’s Champions League playoffs in Manchester City, Real Madrid Manager Carlo Ancelotti decided to rest several key starters such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Thibaut Courtois.

Lack of Defensive Stalwart Dani Cavajal for the season with a torn ACL and their three top center-backs of Militao, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba also wounded, Ancelotti gave 20-year-old Jacobo Ramon his first senior start with colleague Academy player Raul Asenscio.

Madrid’s young defenders fought early and let Leganes create great chances through Diego Garcia and Oscar Rodriguez, who forced real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to make two amazing savings to avoid the opening goals of the home sides in the first and four minutes.

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But Madrid slowly began to take control of the procedure with Brazil tea Teenager Endrick a constant threat in advance and wasted a good option in the 13th minute.

Modric opened the scoring for Real in the 17th minute, and the net a tidy finish from just inside the box and Endrick fired a rebound from close range in the 25th.

Despite Madrid, procedures dominated, a mistake from Ramon in the 39th minute gifted Leganes a penalty. Cruz stepped up to score from the spot with a low strike on the left that was just out of reach of Lunin.

Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior from the bench after the break and the Brazilian missed an absolute sitter from close range before Endrick also spilled another great opportunity.

Cruz did it 2-2 when his shot from defendant defends Ferland Mendy and wrongly faded goalkeeper Lunin, who looked at helpless as the ball slowly crossed the finish line.

Just when it looked like the competition would be on its way into extra time, Diaz ran a run up the right channel and crossed to Garcia, who scored his first senior goal for Madrid to send them into Semis.