Real Madrid vs Villarreal

Get a report of the Villarreal vs. Real Madrid 2022-23 Spanish Copa del Rey, Round of 16 football match.

In the 86th minute Ceballos slotted a perfect low shot from just inside the box to give Real Madrid the win. But we can't get close to the bottom before reacting, that isn't good." It's the first half and the second, the first wasn't good, we can't play like that. [Karim Benzema](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/46858/Karim-Benzema) whose towering header was denied by [Filip Jorgensen](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/304256/Filip-Jorgensen) but allowed Eder Militao to score from the rebound. "I told the team to wake up. "I was annoyed, very annoyed," Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said.

The starting line-up was a far more experienced one, though - with Thibaut Courtois starting over Andriy Lunin for the first cup game in a long time. Eden ...

The effort from the team wasn’t exactly convincing, but Ferland Mendy could have made things better when he found himself one on one with the keeper, but his effort wasn’t good enough to beat the keeper. The half needed to be perfect from Real Madrid, and it could not have gone better for Ancelotti’s men. Madrid managed to game well from this point onwards, and saw the game out for 3-2 win. Things had gotten serious in the Copa del Rey as Real Madrid had a chance to progress to the quarter finals of a competition that they barely ever win. The starting line-up was a far more experienced one, though - with Thibaut Courtois starting over Andriy Lunin for the first cup game in a long time. Villarreal posed a strong challenge, meaning that the opportunities that youth players received in the previous round would be hard to come by this time out.

Real Madrid tapped into the magic that typified last season to advance to the next round of the Copa del Rey.

And Ceballos added the crucial third with five minutes remaining, driving the ball into the corner before diving to the ground to welcome a pile of team-mates. Villarreal were all over Real Madrid in the first half, and opened the scoring inside five minutes. Their second came 10 minutes later, after Militao reacted first to a loose ball inside the Villarreal box.

But, the players showed immense character to turn it around in the second half. Vinicius Jr, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos scored to turn the match around on ...

But, the players showed immense character to turn it around in the second half. What made it even more important is the circumstances surrounding the club at the moment. They have several key players out injured right now, were coming off of a Spanish Super Cup final defeat at the hands of Barcelona and have been on a poor run of form after the World Cup break.

Real Madrid tapped into the magic that typified last season to advance to the next round of the Copa del Rey.

And Ceballos added the crucial third with five minutes remaining, driving the ball into the corner before diving to the ground to welcome a pile of team-mates. Villarreal were all over Real Madrid in the first half, and opened the scoring inside five minutes. Their second came 10 minutes later, after Militao reacted first to a loose ball inside the Villarreal box.

Dani Ceballos channels his inner-Guti and inspires Real Madrid to a Copa del Rey comeback.

A game-winning goal, an assist, and a critical hockey assist — involved in all three goal. Improved in the second half after the substitutions, playing in a deeper midfield role alongside Camavinga. Unlucky to get a yellow card in the first half, but learned to manage it (as Carlo spoke to in the post-match presser). One of the most impactful substitution appearances seen in a long time. It was Nacho that made two last ditch tackles on Alex Baena to deny Villarreal a further advantage in the first half. More of that is needed from the Frenchman in future matches.