A stoppage-time goal by Gonzalo Garcia secured Real Madrid a 3-2 win over Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. Read how a second-string Madrid side battled their way to victory.
A last-minute goal by 20-year-old Gonzalo Garcia helped a weakened Real Madrid defeat Leganes 3-2 in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Despite resting several key players, Madrid fought hard against their lower-league rivals and secured the win in stoppage time.
Madrid took a 2-0 lead early in the first half through Luka Modric and Endrick, but Juan Cruz pulled one back from the penalty spot before halftime. Cruz then equalized in the 59th minute with a deflected strike. However, substitute Gonzalo Garcia became the hero in the 93rd minute, heading in a Brahim Diaz cross to seal Madrid’s place in the semifinals.
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A Weakened Real Madrid Battles Through
With crucial matches coming up—a LaLiga derby against Atletico Madrid and a Champions League clash at Manchester City—manager Carlo Ancelotti rested stars like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Thibaut Courtois.
In defense, Dani Carvajal is out for the season with a torn ACL, while Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba are also injured. This forced 20-year-old Jacobo Ramon and fellow academy player Raul Asencio to start at the back.
Leganes saw early chances as Diego Garcia and Oscar Rodriguez tested Madrid’s keeper Andriy Lunin, who made two excellent saves in the opening minutes.
Early Goals but Defensive Struggles
After Madrid settled, Endrick became a constant threat and nearly scored in the 13th minute. The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Modric finished calmly from inside the box. Just eight minutes later, Endrick doubled Madrid’s lead, slotting home a rebound from close range.
Despite controlling the game, Madrid’s defense remained shaky. In the 39th minute, Ramon’s handball gave Leganes a penalty, which Cruz converted with a low shot past Lunin.
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Second-Half Drama and Garcia’s Heroics
After halftime, Vinicius Jr. came off the bench but missed a golden chance from close range. Endrick also wasted another big opportunity before Leganes struck again. In the 59th minute, Cruz’s shot deflected off Ferland Mendy, wrongfooting Lunin, and rolling into the net for 2-2.
With extra time looming, Brahim Diaz made a late run down the right wing and delivered a pinpoint cross to Gonzalo Garcia, who rose high to score his first senior goal for Real Madrid in the 93rd minute, sending the team into the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Madrid now shifts focus to Saturday’s LaLiga clash with Atletico Madrid before their Champions League showdown against Manchester City next week.
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