Chalien Dantes/Contributor

Kylian Mbappe is getting close to making Real Madrid history after a night in the Copa del Rey.

The 26-year-old struck twice in the win over Talavera, taking his goal haul for 2025 to 58 and leaving him just one shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year. Ronaldo set that benchmark back in 2013, and Mbappe now has Sevilla up next on Saturday (December 20) with the chance to draw level or go clear.

Real Madrid needed Mbappe’s cutting edge to shake off stubborn resistance from the third division side. His two goals came either side of an own goal from defender Manuel Farrando, as Talavera briefly threatened to turn the tie into a drama late on before Madrid shut the door and booked their place in the last 16.

Head coach Xabi Alonso rang the changes, making 10 switches from the league win over Alaves. Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr were among those watching from the bench, but Madrid still controlled the game from the outset. The breakthrough finally arrived three minutes before half-time when Mbappe calmly sent goalkeeper Jaime Gonzalez the wrong way from the penalty spot after a handball by Marcos Moreno.

Four minutes later, Madrid doubled their lead. Mbappe burst down the byline and drilled the ball across goal, with Farrando the unlucky man to turn it into his own net.

Talavera refused to fade quietly. Nahuel Arroyo pulled one back in the 80th minute to spark belief, but it did not last long. Gonzalez spilt a long-range Mbappe effort eight minutes later, the ball ending up in the net once more. Gonzalo di Renzo added another for the hosts deep into stoppage time, though the result was already beyond doubt.

For Alonso, the win continues a steady lift after a difficult spell. Madrid have now won three of their last five matches, easing the pressure that built after just one victory in five during November. They remain second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona, and sit seventh in the Champions League heading into the final two league-phase games in January.