Real Madrid retain bite in Copa del Rey despite Mbappe absence due to tooth removal

by


Real Madrid will take a 1-0 lead into the second-leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Real Sociedad courtesy of their teenage prodigy, Endrick.

The 18-year-old Brazilian struck in the 19th minute to give Los Blancos a slender advantage going into the return fixture at the Bernabeu on 1 April.

But they did so without the services of in-form Kylian Mbappe after the Frenchman reportedly suffered pain overnight following the removal of a tooth.

Carlo Ancelotti had initially confirmed Mbappe would be in contention for the game despite missing training because of the procedure but he was then omitted from the squad prior to kick-off.

Thibaut Courtois and Fede Valverde were also missing but it is thought they were both rested.

In the other semi-final first leg on Tuesday, Barcelona played out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Real’s city rivals Atletico.

Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann gave Atletico a commanding lead after just six minutes at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, but Barcelona hit back with goals from Pedri, Pau Curbasi and Inigo Martinez before the break.

Robert Lewandowski then added a fourth with 15 minutes remaining but it was then the turn of Diego Simeone’s men to hit back as late goals from Marcus Llorente and Alexander Sorloth ensured the tie would be in the balance going into the second leg.

Elsewhere on the continent, Rangers overcame an early scare to beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Joe Wright and Brad Lyons gave the home side a shock two-goal lead after just a quarter of an hour. But any potential blushes from the visitors were spared as Vaclav Cerny, Nedim Bajrani and a Cyriel Dessers brace turned the game in Rangers’ favour.

The result keeps Rangers, who this week appointed former player Barry Ferguson as head coach until the end of the season after the departure of Philipe Clement, 13 points behind league leaders Celtic, who thrashed Aberdeen 5-1 on Tuesday.

Daizen Maeda scored twice, while Jota, Callum McGregor and Yang Hyun-Jun also found the net to give Brendan Rodgers’s side a convincing victory.

Shayden Morris scored the goal for Aberdeen.




Leave a Comment