Real Madrid's youth shine in Copa del Rey thriller

This victory marks another chapter in Real Madrid's storied history in the competition, with Los Blancos now advancing to the semi-finals.

The match was a rollercoaster from start to finish. Real Madrid took the lead through Luka Modric's fine finish in the 18th minute, following excellent work by Rodrygo.

The lead was quickly doubled by Endrick, who capitalized on a loose ball to score from close range.

However, Leganes fought back, earning a penalty which Juan Cruz converted to make it 2-1. The equalizer came from Cruz again, this time with a deflected shot, setting the stage for a tense conclusion.

Carlo Ancelotti, after the match, highlighted the contributions of the younger players, "It was an even and competitive game. The team played very well in attack and were very effective," he said. He particularly praised Gonzalo Garcia, "Gonzalo is on a very good run with Castilla and he also contributed tonight."

Ancelotti also spoke about the importance of the youth system, "The youth system is doing a very good job and well-prepared players are coming through." He mentioned players like Jacobo, who, despite struggling initially, showed improvement as the match progressed.

"We can take satisfaction from this match," Ancelotti added, acknowledging the hard work of youngsters like Endrick and Arda Guler.

On the injury front, Ancelotti expressed concerns about several players. "Hopefully Camavinga can recover for Saturday's game; he is a doubt, like Valverde was a doubt," he noted. He also mentioned Lucas Vazquez's minor issue that kept him out of the lineup.

The coach emphasized a game-by-game approach due to the current squad challenges, particularly at the back. "We have to take it one game at a time. We have to put together a strong line-up for Saturday's game," Ancelotti remarked, while also noting Federico Valverde's versatility, "Wherever I put him, he delivers."

Vinicius Junior was described as his usual decisive self despite not getting on the scoresheet. "On a footballing level, Vinicius was his usual self. He was very fresh, very decisive when one-on-one," said Ancelotti.

Real Madrid's journey in the Copa del Rey continues, with their young stars proving pivotal in this nail-biting encounter. The performance has not only kept Real Madrid in contention for another trophy but has also spotlighted the bright future of its youth academy.