Real Madrid are just about into the semi-finals of this season’s Copa del Rey following Wednesday night’s dramatic 3-2 quarter-final victory over Leganes.

Leganes are struggling just above La Liga’s relegation zone but made a game of the tie after it initially seemed as though it would be a procession for Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid, who gave up a comfortable 2-0 lead in this competition for the second round in a row.

Substitute Gonzalo Garcia spared Madrid blushes in the third minute of stoppage time, as well as eliminating the need for any extra-time, with a close-range finish at the death.

How the game unfolded

Luka Modric fired the European champions into an 18th minute lead, getting forward from his usual role to meet Rodrygo’s measured pass into the box. The 39-year-old ran onto the ball perfectly and was able to poke the finish beyond the reach of home goalkeeper Juan Soriano.

Endrick followed that up with a second for Madrid a few moments later, 21 years remarkably separating the goalscorers in age. Rodrygo was again the creator from the left flank, but it took a few more short passes on the edge of the box, before the ball feel to Endrick for a simple finish.

But Leganes managed to force their way back when Jacobo Ramon’s rawness showed on his first senior start. The young defender slid in to try and block Juan Cruz’s attempted low cross. He managed to stop the ball, but only with his outstretched hand.

Cruz stepped up to convert the resultant spot-kick, before the same player then fired Leganes level on the hour mark. Cruz’s exchange of multiple passes with Darko Brasanac moved the ball too easily through Madrid’s static defence, and the deflected finish was enough to wrongfoot Andriy Lunin.

Off the bench to help salvage the tie, Vinicius Junior struck the post for Madrid, before what felt like a personal mission to drag his team through. The winger dazzled, first putting the ball on a plate in the box for no teammate to capitalise, before setting up Brahim Diaz to strike the bar.

Leganes had some of their own chances to go ahead, notably forcing Lunin into a big late save, which proved even more important when Garcia made himself the hero with a header from Brahim’s cross.

Check out the player ratings from Leganes vs Real Madrid here.

Gonzalo Garcia has been prolific for Real Madrid Castilla this season, but the 20-year-old Madridista entire first-team experience prior to Wednesday night’s late cameo extended to 17 minutes across two La Liga substitute appearances 14 months ago.

Garcia has been on the bench a handful of times this season but was yet to get on the pitch, until Ancelotti turned to him with eight minutes and stoppage time remaining.

Confidence would have been flowing anyway given that he bagged four in a Castilla game just last week, but a winning goal for the senior side in that manner…he’ll be firmly on cloud nine.

The Copa del Rey is no more than Madrid’s third biggest priority this season, but it still represents major silverware – particularly after being humiliated by Barcelona in the recent Supercopa de Espana.

Madrid have tended to underachieve in this competition, making only one final – which they won in 2023, over the last ten years. Over the same period, Barcelona have played in six finals and lifted the trophy five times.

Going all the way in the Champions League is going to be tough given just how paper thin the defensive line is. Madrid sit top of La Liga as it is, but a lack of depth in the run-in could also bite them there too. The Copa del Rey could be their best chance to avoid a trophy-less (excluding last summer’s UEFA Super Cup) season.

RFEF will make the draw for the semi-finals on 12 February, with Atletico Madrid the only other side to have made it through so far. Real Sociedad’s clash with Osasuna, and Barcelona’s trip to Valencia are the remaining quarter-finals that will be played on Thursday night.

Antonio Rudiger has been the constant in Madrid’s ever-changing backline this season. But the German centre-back was forced off just 15 minutes into Sunday’s frustrating defeat at the hands of Espanyol. It means that a complete back four of top calibre defenders is now sidelined, with Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and David Alaba also missing – two of them for the rest of the season.

Rudiger may not return until the latter stages of February. It gives Ancelotti a problem because the lack of a defensive leader can’t not have been a factor in conceding twice as they did.

Aurelien Tchouameni lined up in midfield from the start here, but the Frenchman has tended to be the emergency stand-in in heart of defence. Even if that remains the case in the coming few games, one of Raul Asencio or Jacobo Ramon, who gave away a penalty here, will have to start alongside him. The alternative is that the inexperienced youngsters play together, as they did against Leganes.

What must Jesus Vallejo be thinking? He’s in the squad this season to make up the numbers, but still can’t get a game in a genuine centre-back crisis.

Another Copa tie, another goalscoring performance from Endrick.

The initial hype around the teenage Brazilian has died down due to being largely kept back in La Liga and the Champions League. It has remained sporadic substitute minutes in those competitions, but it’s been three meaningful appearances and counting in the Copa del Rey.

Patience is a virtue and the 18-year-old has potentially well over a decade of professional football still ahead of him. Vinicius Junior wasn’t a smash hit straight away, so Endrick doesn’t need to do everything and have it all at once. For the time being, this is actually fine.

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