On This Day in 2023: Benzema’s Last Trophy with Real Madrid
Three years ago today, Real Madrid defeated Osasuna 2-1 in the Copa del Rey final at La Cartuja in Seville.
Rodrygo got both goals. He opened the scoring after 107 seconds. Vinícius Jr drove in from the left, cut it back along the ground, and Rodrygo swept it past Sergio Herrera . The goal pushed Osasuna out at Madrid rather than into a shell, and the next half hour was actually pretty uncomfortable for the favourites. Thibaut Courtois had to deal with Ante Budimir more than once. Dani Carvajal cleared an Abde Ezzalzouli effort off the line. David Alaba hit the bar at the other end.
Just before the hour, Lucas Torró equalized with a low strike. Decent finish, real moment of belief for Osasuna. It lasted about ten minutes. Toni Kroos had a shot deflected, the ball fell kindly, and Rodrygo prodded in the winner in the 70th.
The route to the final was the part most Madridistas remember. Atlético Madrid out in the quarters, then Barcelona over two legs in the semis.
It was also Karim Benzema’s last title with the club. He lifted it as captain that night, and a few weeks later, signed for Al-Ittihad after fourteen years in Madrid.
