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Three takeaways from Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey round of 32 victory

By Ben Sundock

Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Brahim Diaz (L) celebrates his goal during the Copa del Rey (King's Cup) football match between Unionistas de Salamanca CF and Real Madrid CF at Las Pistas del Helmantico stadium in Salamanca, on January 22, 2020. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Brahim Diaz (L) celebrates his goal during the Copa del Rey (King's Cup) football match between Unionistas de Salamanca CF and Real Madrid CF at Las Pistas del Helmantico stadium in Salamanca, on January 22, 2020. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid GK Alphonse Areola
BRUGGE, BELGIUM – DECEMBER 11: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola of Real Madrid gestures during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Club Brugge KV and Real Madrid at Jan Breydel Stadium on December 11, 2019 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Give credit to Alphonse Areola

In his first start in over a month, back up goalkeeper Alphonse Areola did a great job staving off a few quality looks from Salamanca.

The goalkeeper on loan at Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain faced 10 shots – four of which were on target – in this match and made a couple of world-class saves.

The lone goal he allowed was unstoppable as Unionistas’ Alvaro Romero fired the ball perfectly into the top corner of the goal on a shot from the edge of the box. But, it was his crucial stop in the 78th minute on a point-blank attempt that cemented his quality performance.

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The way Areola has played in his short time with Los Blancos has made me wonder if the club could splurge and pay PSG for his rights come the summer. Andriy Lunin – who is expected to be the backup come the fall – has struggled everywhere he has been loaned to, so, why not spend money on a reliable veteran like Alphonse?

We may not see the French keeper again until the Copa del Rey round of 16, but he should be proud of his performance in this fixture.

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