Copa del Rey: Without Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid takes the lead against Real Sociedad
Thanks to a goal scored by Endrick, who started in the absence of the French striker, Real won the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final (1-0) on the Anoeta pitch, against the club from San Sebastian. The return leg is on April 1st!
By Sébastien NietoThe day after a crazy Copa del Rey semi-final first leg between Barça and Atlético (4-4) , a much more timid evening in San Sebastian, between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid. In this first leg, the White House (orange this Wednesday evening) won in the Basque Country by the smallest of margins (1-0), thanks to a goal from the young Brazilian Endrick, 18, who started in place of a rested Kylian Mbappé . Having had a wisdom tooth operation, the Frenchman stayed in Madrid.
The opportunity for Carlo Ancelotti to have a more global turnover in a pivotal period of the season. Eduardo Camavinga or Arda Güler have thus found a place in the starting eleven. Just like Jude Bellingham, suspended in the championship and in the Champions League until March 9, or Vinicius, with the captain's armband for the first time in his career with Real. And in a very balanced match, the Madrilenians therefore get out of it thanks to Endrick.
Well launched by Bellingham in depth, the kid from Palmeiras adjusted with an outside of his left foot (19th). His sixth goal of the season for his fourth start, all competitions combined. For the rest, let's pay tribute to the two goalkeepers, Lunin on Real Madrid's side, Remiro on Real Sociedad's side. The Ukrainian and the Spaniard are the main responsible for this "small" score, as is the clumsiness in the final move of the Basque attackers.
In a sometimes tense match, interrupted for a few moments by the referee for insulting chants towards Madrid defender Raul Asencio, Real Madrid therefore took the lead in the semi-final first leg. At the very end of the match, Carlo Ancelotti lost his favourite midfielder of the moment, Dani Ceballos, who went off with an injury.
Real Madrid and Real Sociedad will meet again at the Bernabeu stadium on April 1st for the return leg. In the meantime, it's time for the rest of La Liga and, above all, the last 16 of the Champions League with a Real-Atlético derby. Real Sociedad will face Manchester United in the last 16 of the Europa League.
Le Parisien
