January 20, (THEWILL) – In a thrilling Copa del Rey match on Thursday, Real Madrid completed a stunning comeback to defeat Villarreal 3-2, erasing the effort of Samuel Chukwueze for Villarreal’s second goal.
The hosts were ahead early on, with goals from Etienne Capoue and Samuel Chukwueze giving them a 2-0 lead at the break. However, Madrid was not to be outdone, as Vinicius Junior and Eder Militao scored in the second half to level the match.
With the tie seemingly heading to extra time, Dani Ceballos proved to be Madrid’s unlikely hero as he scored the winning goal in the 86th minute.
The victory marks a significant bounce back for Madrid, who were defeated by rivals Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final just days prior. While they struggled in the first half, they improved significantly after the break and deservedly secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
The defence also played a crucial role in the comeback, as they held Villarreal to no shots on target in the second half while managing five of their own. Both teams will return to La Liga action on Sunday, with Madrid facing Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal hosting Girona.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
