Lucky Strike as Madrid Makes It to the Finals

Real Madrid has recently experienced some off days. However, time and time again, the team has proven that spirit, determination, and luck can carry them to success. Tuesday’s game against Real Sociedad was no different. Despite their efforts, Madrid made key mistakes, including letting the match go into overtime and ultimately settling for a draw. 

Aside from the mistakes Real Madrid made, Tuesday’s game was quite entertaining as well as a hoot for spectators and fellow players alike. Within the first 80 minutes of the game, Real Madrid was proudly leading 3-1, but shortly after goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni made it 3-3, and then Mikel Oyarzabal's 93rd-minute goal sent the semifinal into extra time. As this game unfolded, Ancelotti never lost faith and in fact insisted that even at 3-1 down, Madrid would be eliminated. Specifically, he praised players such as Vinicius Junior, who landed two stunning goals with assists, and Endrick, who most notably scored Madrid’s opener. Both players, but specifically Endrick, are making themselves more known with each goal they score. While Endrick hasn’t seen the spotlight as often or clearly as Kylian Mbappé, the scores Endrick made on Tuesday’s game mark five goals scored in five Copa del Rey appearances.

Recognizing that he plays among other excellent players, Endrick notes that he will take any chance he gets to “help the team,” and in this particular game, there were plenty of opportunities. "We had to keep creating chances, and that's what we did. But we should do better,” said the midfielder. Mbappé was certainly an offensive steal for Real Madrid, but as it goes for Tuesday’s game, it caused some issues. The opposing team’s coach, Imanol Alguacil, criticized Mbappé’s position for the second goal, which leveled the game to 3-3, arguing that it shouldn’t have been allowed because he was in an offside position earlier in the move. During a later game, Madrid redeemed themselves by the semifinal second leg at the Metropolitano on Wednesday, after their first leg ended 4-4. At the end of the day, this success helped pull Madrid out of the mud and push them into the finals.