Karim Benzema equals Marcelo by becoming the most successful player in history with Real Madrid, thanks to the 20th coronation of the White House in the King’s Cup final. It was on a double by Rodrygo that Carlo Ancelotti’s men beat Osasuna in Seville (2-1).
Thanks to a double from Rodrygo, Real Madrid overpowered Osasuna 2-1 and won the 20th King’s Cup in its history on Saturday in Seville, nine years after its last title in the competition, in 2014.
The young Brazilian jewel of Real had to illustrate himself twice to give his team the advantage. He opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, on the first attacking ball of the Merengue, at the conclusion of a breakthrough by Vinicius on the left wing. Then after the equalizer signed Lucas Torro with a half-volley from the right on the way back from the locker room (58th), Rodrygo inherited a lucky ball, after a strike by Toni Kroos deflected by the Navarra defense, which he just had to poke over Sergio Herrera to ensure the coronation to Real.
Three days before their Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City, Carlo Ancelotti’s men, reigning European and Spanish champions, won their first trophy of the season at the best of times, just before the final sprint to the continental title.
Rodrygo’s “very special day”
Fired up from the start, the players of the “White House” found the flaw in 106 seconds of play, scoring one of the fastest goals in the history of the King’s Cup finals. Widely used this season (50 matches, 35 as a starter), Rodrygo, 22, has once again shown his importance in the Merengue group, perfect support of superstars Karim Benzema and his compatriot Vinicius (at the origin of the two goals from his left wing) in the attacking trident of Real.
“It’s a very special day, especially with two goals scored. I really wanted to win this title, it was the only one I was missing. I want to keep winning more, and more King’s Cups. But this one is the first, so it’s a special day for me,” the winger reacted at the final whistle. He now has 16 goals and 11 assists this season, in all competitions. Replaced by Marco Asensio in the 89th, Rodrygo was given a standing ovation by half of the Cartuja stadium, dressed in white.
Osasuna, for his part, showed a better face when he returned from the locker room. Non-existent in the first half, except for some lightning strikes from the prodigy Ez Abde (26th), the Navarrese started the second period much better, dominating the game and offering themselves some great goal opportunities before the equalizer. The “Gorritxo” (reds, in Basque language), who were playing there for their second King’s Cup final after the one lost in 2005 against Betis Sevilla, will have to wait to lift the first major trophy in their history.
The “Nueve” a little more in the story
Real, for their part, could have won by a more substantial margin. Benzema, the captain, had the ball from 2-0 at the tip of his foot in the 25th minute after a superb three-way game with his Brazilian attacking companions, but his strike was deflected by a great Sergio Herrera. Then in the 32nd, David Alaba sent a free kick from 25 meters over the crossbar. Benzema nevertheless won his 25th title in the Merengue jersey, joining Marcelo at the top of the players who have won the most titles at Real Madrid. The “Nueve” also lifted the 99th trophy in the history of this club with an immense track record.
A coronation that comes at the best of times for Real Madrid, in full doubt after its two stinging defeats on the grounds of promoted Girona (4-2) and Real Sociedad (2-0). But Ancelotti, coach of the last coronation of the Merengue in 2014 in the national cup, had promised in March: this season, Real was going to win something. Promise kept.