The game: 1-0
On the lawn in poor condition of Cacereño, Real Madrid began its journey in the Copa del Rey with a revamped team and deprived of many executives. Karim Benzema, author of a double in the last match of the Championship, was for example not in the ranks of the team of Carlo Ancelotti this Tuesday evening unlike the two tricolor globalists, Aurélien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, aligned in the midfield.
The absences were felt in the first period. Beaten in the physical slaughter, the Merengues struggled to make a difference technically. Eden Hazard failed to stand out and the Madrid defense was particularly stressed. Under the impetus of Carmelo Merenciano, the players of Caceres showed themselves offensively but without creating a clear situation despite a few stops from Lunin. The first act was also poor in opportunities and Cacereño did better than compete once morest the reigning European champion.
Upon returning from the locker room, the debates remained balanced. With the release of their playmaker Merenciano, the players of Caceres were no longer so threatening offensively. The entry into play of Rudiger and Vallejo on the Madrid side reinforced their impotence. Real didn’t show much either but had players capable of making the difference at all times. This is the case of Rodrygo. Found at the left corner of the area, he made his way into the area between two defenders before finding the opposite skylight to open the scoring (0-1, 69th). Freed, the White House was not yet safe. But despite the latest attacks from the Fourth Division club, Real Madrid have managed to hold on to their ticket to the rest of the competition.
Used mainly in a role of luxury joker, Rodrygo had been established this Tuesday evening at the forefront of the Madrid attack. In a different register from that of Karim Benzema and following a World Cup marked by his missed shot on goal once morest Croatia, the Brazilian managed to reconcile with the goal in the 69th minute. On an inside-out sequence, he sent an unstoppable shot into the right corner of the opposing goalkeeper. A goal that sealed Madrid’s qualification and illustrated Rodrygo’s reliability: when called upon, he often responds.
