Real Madrid started off looking quite uncomfortable on the ball without many attempts going forward. Things got worse as Sergio Sanchez was able to score a header after only 10 minutes to make it 1-0 to Malaga. Madrid tried a little harder but nothing really seemed to work, and they really weren't trying hard enough as Martin Demicheles made it 2-0 from yet another header. Things were really not looking too good for the hosts at half time as they went into the dressing room leaving many of the fans in disbelief.
Jose Mourinho knew that something needed to change as he really did not seem happy with the first half performance, "It's a shame that I cannot make eleven substitutions!" He decided to field his team with three differences. Lassana Diarra was off for Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil for Kaka, and Karim Benzema for Jose Callejon.
Things seemed to make sense as Khedira was finally able to make it 2-1 in the 68th minute and just two minutes later, Higuain took advantage of a horrible defensive mistake to round the keeper and make it 2-2. The 78th minute was when Real Madrid were finally able to take the lead after a great play and a great finish by Benzema to make it 3-2.
After coming back from a long break, things like these should be expected but Madrid really need to be on their top game and avoid the silly mistakes they made in the first half. Now, they have two games coming up next week against Grenada in the Spanish League and the second leg of the Copa del Rey against Malaga. Let's hope we see a change in how the team is after coming back.
OTHER SCORES OF THE COPA:
Albacete 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Mirandes 2-0 Racing Santander
Alcorcon 2-1 Levante
Real Sociedad 2-0 Real Mallorca
Barcelona 4-0 Osasuna
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