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ESPN FC

Mbappe & Madrid Manage

ESPN FC

ESPN

Soccer, Sports

4.22.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The FC crew react to Real Madrid squeezing past Talavera in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 and question why Xabi Alonso would play Kylian Mbappe against such an inferior opponent. Plus, the guys break down Man City's 2-0 win over Brentford in the Carabao Cup and argue how their unavailable list will impact the Premier League title race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:34.1

Hello and welcome into the latest edition of the SPNFC. K. Murray, Craig Burley and Stevie Nicol here in the studio and a lot of cup action to get through today, starting in the Copa del Rey, where in the round of 32, Real Madrid were up against third-tier Talavera and it was a bit of a tense ending for them. Killian Mbapé was a surprising start for Chabu Yolonso. He scored the opener, a penalty in the 41st minute.

0:55.0

He also forced a known goal before the halftime whistle went. However, in the second half,

1:00.0

Talavera pulled one back in the 80th minute, making for a nervy ending before Mbapé scored a third goal for Real Madrid in the 88.

1:08.0

Then Talavera struck again from a free kick.

1:10.9

Derenzo, that made it 3-2 and it took a big save in the 93rd minute from Loonin to stop

1:16.9

the third tier side, actually leveling things out and sending it to extra time.

1:21.3

In the end, Real Madrid march on, but it does raise a few more questions of everything

1:25.3

that's going on under Chabio-Alonso at the moment. Jellix Kirkland's watching the game for as our Madrid correspondent. That was tense at the end there, Alex. Yeah, I think much like the winner Alivez at the weekend in La Liga, Kay, it's a win, but that's all it is for Val Madrid. It's a deeply unconvincing performance, and it's not helpful at all, I think, in terms

1:46.1

of Javier Lonzo's course for staying on as coach, because they were really hanging on, as you say, and he picked a strong team. He played them Bappe for 90 minutes. Thank goodness he digs. He scored twice and was involved in the third goal as well. You know, you're bringing on Dubillingham and two or many for the last 15 minutes.

2:01.8

And there was no control of this game.

2:04.1

And they were hanging on and needed a great save from Lunium right at the end to get that win. So like I say, it's a victory. They're through to the next round, but nothing more. And if anything, I don't think this leaves Shadde Yolansso in a stronger position as coach.

2:18.7

In fact, I think the way they played, I think it weakens him.

2:21.1

Yeah, especially with the players that he had out there tonight, Craig.

2:23.5

Yeah, and we always say, well, it's all about results, but to Alex's point there,

2:27.8

it's when you give it the eye test, which we have a lot with Real Madrid this season,

2:33.1

particularly recently with all the

2:35.3

draws away from home, when you look at, take the result apart, you look at the opposition,

2:41.2

you look at the Real Madrid team, you look at the players he selected, and you look at the

...

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