Madrid, Feb 27: Kylian Mbappé’s replacement Endrick scored a first-half goal and Real Madrid won 1-0 at Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Madrid was without Mbappé after he had tooth removed and was forced to miss practice on Tuesday. The France star has scored six goals in his last five matches.
Endrick, an 18-year-old Brazil forward, scored in a breakaway after Jude Bellingham’s long pass on Wednesday.
“Endrick has helped us a lot,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
“His goal was fantastic. He worked well up front and on defense as well. The team has been playing well.”
On Tuesday in the first leg of the other semifinals, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid drew 4-4.Both return matches will be played in April.
Ancelotti rested regular starters Thibaut Courtois and Federico Valverde. Courtois’ replacement in goal, Andriy Lunin, played a key role in giving Madrid the first-leg advantage.
Madrid clinched its last Copa title in 2023. It was eliminated by Atletico in the round of 16 last season. Sociedad hadn’t made it to the last four since it won its third Copa title in 2020, when it eliminated Madrid in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 win at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The Basque Country club had lost its last three matches against Madrid in the Spanish league.
Until now, the Copa’s knockout rounds were played in single-elimination games. The final will be in Seville on April 26.
Real Madrid took a significant step towards securing a place in the Copa del Rey final with a hard-fought win over Real Sociedad, highlighting their resilience in the absence of star forward Kylian Mbappé.
The match not only showcased Endrick’s emergence as a promising young talent but also underlined the squad’s depth under Carlo Ancelotti’s guidance.
Madrid’s defensive solidity, combined with Lunin’s impressive performance in goal, proved pivotal in maintaining the slender advantage.
With the return leg set to be played in April, Sociedad will be eager to overturn the deficit and keep their hopes alive of reaching the final for the first time since their 2020 triumph.
However, Madrid’s rich history in the competition and their ability to thrive under pressure make them favourites to progress.
The narrow victory sets the stage for an enticing second leg, where both teams will battle for a coveted spot in the final in Seville. (AP)
