Kylian Mbappe is one short of equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most Real Madrid goals in a calendar year after scoring twice in their Copa del Rey win at Talavera.
The Frenchman, 26, scored his 57th and 58th goals of 2025, either side of an own goal from defender Manuel Farrando, to see off a late comeback from the third division side and seal Real’s progression to the last 16.
The double from the former Paris St-Germain and AS Monaco forward moved him within one goal of Ronaldo’s tally of 59 goals from 2013.
Mbappe will have the chance to add to his tally when Real play Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday (20:00 GMT).
Boss Xabi Alonso made 10 changes to the side that beat Alaves in La Liga on Sunday to move within four points of leaders Barcelona, with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr dropping to the bench.
Real, beaten finalists last season, dominated from the first whistle but were unable to find a breakthrough until the 42nd minute when Mbappe sent Jaime Gonzalez the wrong way from the spot after a handball by Marcos Moreno.
The La Liga club added a second just four minutes later when Mbappe turned on the byeline and fired the ball at Farrando, who diverted into his own goal.
Talavera did pull one back in the 80th minute through Nahuel Arroyo, though any hope of a comeback was short-lived as Gonzalez parried Mbappe’s effort from range into his own net eight minutes later.
Gonzalo di Renzo scored a second for Talavera in stoppage time but it ultimately wasn’t enough.
After a tough couple of weeks, Real’s third victory in five games signals something of an upturn in form under Alonso.
The Spaniard was under increasing pressure in late November after a run of one win in five matches.
In addition to qualifying for the next round of the Copa del Rey, Real sit second in La Liga, and seventh in the Champions League before the final two games of the league phase in January.
