February 5, 2025 | Josephine Berger
Real Madrid has a close game with a last-minute win against Madrid neighbors Leganes FC in the Copa del Rey quarter finals after Gonzalo Garcia, a striker for the reserve team, scores the winning header in the 93rd minute after entering the pitch in the 82nd minute of the match. The header from the academy athlete is celebrated by more than just Real Madrid fans but also by his family and Castilla team, who came to support him and the first team.
Real Madrid rested key players for this game like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Jr.,( at first) and Thibaut Courtois ahead of upcoming games. Injuries in defense led to starts for young center backs Jacobo Ramón and Raúl Asencio.
Real Madrid asserted early control over the match in the 17th minute when Luka Modrić scored for los blancos, and just 8 minutes later, Endrick extended Madrid’s advantage by scoring the second goal of the game, giving Real Madrid a 2-0 lead early on in the first half. In the 39th minute, a handball by Jacobo Ramón inside the box gifted the visitors a penalty. Juan Cruz stepped up and scored the penalty, looking for Leganes to have a comeback going into the second half of the game.
Leganés drew level in the 59th minute when Juan Cruz struck again, his shot deflecting off Ferland Mendy.
In the 93rd minute, Gonzalo García rose highest to head in a Brahim Díaz cross, netting his first senior goal and sealing a dramatic 3-2 win for Real Madrid. This goal ensured Real Madrid would have a spot in the semi finals of the Copa de Rey tournament where they will be facing Real Sociedad in 2-leg games, one in the month of February and other in April. This goal was not only important for the young academy star, but to other children in La Fabrica, the nickname for Real Madrid’s academy, that one day have their own dreams to make their debut onto the first team.
Beyond the Bernabeu 