WATCH: How Real Madrid beat Osasuna to win the Copa del Rey. football news
Rodrigo and Vinicius Júnior completed their collection of club trophies for Real Madrid on Saturday after helping the club win its first Copa del Rey in almost a decade.
Vinicius provided the playmaking and Rodrigo scored two goals in a 2–1 victory for Osasuna, who fell behind shortly after kickoff but never progressed to the final.
While Karim Benzema’s performance was weak, his attack partners were crucial.
The 22-year-old Brazilian forward pair have now won all possible titles at club level, having added the Spanish Cup to their European Cup, Spanish League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup titles.
Next up: Defend the Champions League title that was crucial last year to win a record 14th time.
Manchester City arrives in the Spanish capital on Tuesday to start a rematch of last year’s Champions League semi-final won by Madrid.
“(Vinicius and Rodrigo) made the difference,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “Vini gave them a lot of problems in the first half, Rodrigo scored two goals. These two players decide the game.”
“Like all finals, it was sadness and then happiness. We’re going to celebrate a bit and then think about Tuesday.
Rodrigo was set up by Vinicius after two minutes at the La Cartuja stadium. Osasuna’s Lucas Toro equalized in the 58th, but Rodrigo put Madrid ahead in the 70th.
Since winning their last Copa del Rey in 2014, the 14-time European Cup winners have won four Champions Leagues while losing in the Spanish Cup.
That changed on Saturday, when it beat Osasuna who were seeking their first major title in club history after losing their only other Copa del Rey final in 2005. Madrid has 20 Copa del Rey titles, behind only Barcelona (31) and Athletic Bilbao (23).
“We’ve been talking all week that it’s been a long time since Real Madrid won this title,” Rodrigo said. “I really wanted to win this title because it was the only (club) title I was missing.”
Benzema celebrated his club record-matching 25th title with Madrid after receiving the cup from Spain’s King Felipe VI. Coronation of King Charles III in London.
rodrigo was the chief to reach Madrid’s record-extending 14th European Cup last season. And against Osasuna he proved his catch in another big match, especially when cited by countryman Vinicius.
Vinicius dribbled past both John Moncayola and Rubén Peña and slotted the ball past three other defenders to find Rodrigo in the middle of the area to score the early opener.
“Defending Vinicius is very difficult, as City will see on Tuesday,” said Osasuna coach Jagoba Araset, who cried after the final whistle over what he said was “built-up tension”.
But Osasuna, a modest club from Pamplona in northern Spain, also had a chance.
Abd Ezzaloui came close to leveling in the 26th when he broke through the defense and tricked goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, only for Dani Carvajal to break back and clear it to safety.
The action didn’t stop as David Alaba stunned with a long free kick that rattled the crossbar in the 28th.
The lively start was unfortunately cut short when anger broke out between Vinicius and most of the Osasuna players following the run-in. The referee clearly books Vinicius for protesting. Tempers flared at halftime when Vinicius and Osasuna reserve Chimi Avila were pulled apart by teammates as they walked through the tunnel to the changing rooms.
Osasuna started the better in the second half and its urging paid off when a cross from Abde was deflected by Carvajal and reached the unmarked Toro at the top of the area. The midfielder couldn’t have chosen a better time of the season to score his first goal when he fired a right-footed shot into the bottom corner of Courtois’ net.
“We were right there in the second half,” Toro said. “We just didn’t know how to be there. His second goal really hurt. We made a silly mistake (on their first goal) but we didn’t give up and fought Real Madrid. I’m proud of my team.”
The game was briefly stopped after Toro’s goal when a flare was lit in a section full of thrilled Osasuna fans.
Rodrigo strikes again after another run down the left by Vinicius. Toni Kroos’ deflected shot was not cleared by Osasuna and Rodrigo once again knew where to put it past goalkeeper Sergio Herrera for the second. It was his 16th goal of the season.
It was Madrid’s third title of the season after winning the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. It lost the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona and is third in the Spanish league with almost no chance of catching runaway leader Barcelona.
