Real Madrid defeated Osasuna on Saturday night to be crowned and Copa del Rey champions for the 20th time in their history. Madridistas team beat Osasuna 2-1 in the final at the Estadio La Cartuja (Seville). A superb Vini Jr. run set up Rodrygo to open the scoring just two minutes into the game. Lucas Torró then levelled proceedings on 58’, before Rodrygo sealed the victory twelve minutes later. After getting their hands on the Copa, Real Madrid have now won three titles this season, following their successes in the Club World Cup and the European Super Cup.
It was a beautiful game with both teams aiming for the victory and never giving up. It had a good pace and rhythm and was also open for long periods of time. Ancelotti tried to arrange in the green pitch a team that could include as many first team players as possible while also being solid enough to achieve the most. Real Madrid found it very difficult to seize control of the game as Osasuna showed a really strong spirit and was always there looking for chances, keeping Madrid always in movement and unrelaxed. The hard fought game produced 30 shots and other 10 on target, 9 corner kicks, nearly 800 passes and 8 shots on target, with Real Madrid doing slightly better.
The game had barely got underway when the madridistas took the lead. With only two minutes on the clock, Vini Jr. picked the ball up on the left flank, slipped past Moncayola before turning R. Peña inside out on the byline and laying the ball to Rodrygo, who stroked home with his left foot. They Navarrese side didn't lose heart, however, and just five minutes later, Courtois had to make two saves. Routine work for the Belgian, but it was a sign of Osasuna's intent twice in quick succession, as both Budimir and Aimar saw their headed efforts saved by Courtois.
The clash was being played at a frenetic pace and Vini Jr. was a constant threat down the left. On 25’, the Brazilian weaved his way past Moncayola and cut the ball back to Rodrygo, who backheeled it to Benzema, but Herrera was at hand to deny the Frenchman. One minute later, Abde was played through on goal, the forward dinked the ball over Courtois, only for Carvajal to slide in and make a goal-line clearance. On the half-hour mark, Ancelotti‘s boys almost doubled their lead when they were awarded a freekick well outside the penalty area in the 32nd minute. Alaba swerved in a shot that came crashing back off the crossbar. Moments after, Vini Jr. curled an effort wide of the post.
The second half began with Osasuna pressing for an equalizer. As the game got more open quickly, Los Rojillos truly found an equalizer with 58 minutes on the clock when Torró drilled in a low shot from the edge of the D. Madrid soon responded and came within a whisker of scoring four minutes later. Benzema crossed from the left and Valverde’s volley from the penalty spot narrowly missed the target. Ancelotti’s side went back in front in the 70th minute after a similar move to their first goal. Vini Jr. got past two defenders to reach the byline and pull back for Kroos and the ball fell to Rodrygo who stabbed home from close range. The Brazilian was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Asensio on 89’.
A third goal looked certain to materialise just one minute later when Vini Jr. raced through against Herrera, but his pass to Benzema fell just short and the Osasuna shot-stopper was able to smother the ball. Despite their Osasuna continued to push for an equalizer but struggled to create meaningful chances as Madrid saw the game out relatively comfortably. The best chance arguably fell to Kike Barja in the box, but once more it was Carvajal who was on hand to apply sufficient pressure to keep danger at bay. From that point to the end, Real Madrid managed their lead well to ensure they would lift their third trophy of the season, following the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
There was to be no first Copa title for Osasuna, but instead a 20th for Real Madrid and their first since 2014. The big games don't stop coming either, with home and away games against Manchester City in the next 11 days in the Champions League semi-final. With one title in the bag, the Champions League may now truly define Madrid's season, along with whether they can recover second place in LaLiga Santander, having been recently overtaken by Atletico as Barcelona run away with the league.
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