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Real Madrid's teenage sensation Endrick proved his worth with a spectacular extra-time performance, scoring twice to secure a thrilling 5-2 Copa del Rey victory over Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday evening.
The match, which appeared to be comfortably in Madrid's control for most of the regulation time, transformed into an unexpected nail-biter before Endrick's heroics sealed the win. Carlo Ancelotti's side dominated the opening 80 minutes but faced a nervous finale after conceding two late goals.
After a sluggish first half-hour, Madrid found their rhythm through Brahim Diaz, who posed a constant threat down the right flank. Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 37th minute with a characteristic solo effort, cutting in from the left before finishing clinically across the goalkeeper.
The lead was doubled shortly after halftime through a masterclass in counter-attacking football. Mbappe combined with Brahim Diaz, who then set up Vinicius Jr for a simple finish. Madrid could have extended their lead further, with Mbappe missing a header and curling effort, while Arda Guler had a goal disallowed for offside.
However, the game took a dramatic turn following Eduardo Camavinga's costly error, which led to Jonathan Bamba pulling one back for Celta. The visitors then equalized in stoppage time through Marcos Alonso's penalty, awarded after a careless challenge from Raul Asencio.
The extra time period belonged to Endrick, who transformed from substitute to hero. After Antonio Rudiger had struck the post, the Brazilian teenager unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box to restore Madrid's lead. Federico Valverde added a spectacular fourth with a 30-yard thunderbolt before Endrick capped off his remarkable cameo with an audacious backheel finish.
Despite the eventual scoreline suggesting a comfortable victory, Ancelotti will have concerns about his team's game management. The Italian tactician acknowledged that while Madrid "woke up when it counted," the overall performance left room for improvement.
In the individual performances, Luka Modric showed his enduring class in midfield, while Mbappe and Vinicius Jr provided constant attacking threats. However, Camavinga's error and a mixed defensive display from Antonio Rudiger highlighted areas for improvement as Madrid progresses in the competition.
The victory, though not entirely convincing, showcased Madrid's depth and resilience, with Endrick's match-winning contribution potentially marking the emergence of another star at the Bernabeu.
