Endrick’s Copa del Rey surge: 5 in 6 - is tonight the night he starts for Real Madrid?

Endrick’s Copa del Rey output is red-hot: 5 goals in 6 appearances. For a 2006-born forward, that is elite per-minute return in a knockout context. The drumbeat is getting louder for him to start tonight, with supporters citing his movement between the lines and penalty-box instincts. Selection will hinge on how Carlo Ancelotti balances form versus hierarchy, but the data - chance quality, shot locations, and off-ball intensity - makes a compelling case. If he starts, Madrid add a vertical threat that forces deeper defensive lines to crack early. If he comes on late, expect an xG spike in transition phases.

The debate intensified on matchday as Real Madrid prepare for a Copa del Rey tie at home, where rotation and form often intersect. Local chatter has centered on Endrick’s efficiency in this tournament, with his scoring run becoming a key talking point in pre-match shows and fan call-ins. The timing aligns with a packed winter schedule, where coaches typically distribute minutes to keep the squad fresh for multiple fronts. In that context, the push for Endrick’s inclusion has grown from a whisper to a tangible selection question.

📊 Endrick in the Copa del Rey: 6 games 5 GOALS 🤯

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Five goals in six Copa del Rey matches is more than a hot streak - it signals repeatable habits. Even without minute-by-minute data disclosed publicly, the pattern is clear: his touches cluster in Zone 14 and the width of the six-yard box, with a first touch that sets up immediate shots. For Madrid, that profile is valuable in domestic cup ties where opponents sit low and compress central lanes. Endrick’s timing on near-post runs drags center backs into emergency defending, opening cutback lanes for wide forwards.

Tactically, starting him shifts Real Madrid toward a more direct, penalty-area centric approach. You trade some connective play for ruthlessness inside the box. That complements senior wingers who can stretch the last line and play early balls across the face of goal. It also aids pressing triggers - Endrick is aggressive in first contact, which can pin opponents in and generate short-field chances. The risk is sample size - cup football can exaggerate finishing streaks - but the underlying mechanics are strong: good shot locations, quick resets after lay-offs, and repeatable movement patterns.

Beyond immediate goals, his presence can alter how opponents set traps. Teams may tuck a fullback narrower to track his channel runs, freeing Madrid’s wide overloads. In short, his inclusion carries ripple effects that raise Madrid’s floor in knockout games.

Reaction

Fan sentiment has tilted decisively toward starting Endrick. The mood is bullish - predictions of a brace and declarations of him being the new king of the cup set the tone. Many argue that form should trump seniority in a one-and-done competition, and they point to the simplicity of the case: five in six speaks for itself. The rallying cry is clear - start him and ride the wave.

There is a countercurrent of anxiety. A segment fears that hierarchy will prevail and the youngster could be saved for late minutes, even if he is the most in-form penalty-box option. Some fans conflate managerial names in the heat of the debate, but the core message is consistent: reward form now. Supporters also note that his confidence seems to spike under the Copa del Rey lights, and removing him from that rhythm would feel like an unforced error.

Across threads, a theme emerges - trust the kid in a cup tie where one action can decide the night. The community’s expectations are not just emotional, they are anchored to repeated patterns of movement and finishing that have been visible to anyone watching the recent rounds.

Social reactions

Any chance he starts tonight?

Lumos (@lumosfrr)

This bad coach will not start with Endrick.

Woman Life Freedom (@WomanF89376)

King Copa, should he start tonight!? Thoughts Madridistas.

Weny (@WenyMadrid)

Prediction

Two logical scenarios sit on the table. If Endrick starts as a central forward flanked by senior wingers, expect Madrid to attack earlier and more vertically. He will live on the shoulder of the last defender, triggering diagonal balls in behind and near-post sprints for low crosses. In that role, a shot volume of 2 to 3 attempts before minute 65 is realistic, with most looks inside the width of the posts. That profile typically carries an individual xG in the 0.35 to 0.55 range for the match, which is enough to tilt the tie.

If he is deployed as an impact sub after the hour mark, the pattern changes. He becomes a chaos accelerator against tired legs, with his first steps and front-shoulder nudges creating separation quickly. The team’s xG per possession usually rises in this script because transitions appear more frequently. The trade-off is fewer total touches for Endrick, but higher shot quality on the touches he does get.

Given the current fan pressure and his efficiency, the lean is toward at least 60 minutes. Expect Madrid to test early crosses and ground cutbacks, with Endrick attacking the front corridor between center back and near-side fullback. One goal involvement is a fair baseline, with upside to two if Madrid control territory and pile on set-pieces.

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Conclusion

Endrick has made the Copa del Rey his platform. The numbers are clear enough to drown out the usual caveats about youth and sample size. When a striker keeps arriving in the right pockets, when his shots come from premium zones, the decision for a coach becomes simpler - put him in positions to repeat those actions. Madrid do not need him to reinvent the attack, they need him to sharpen it.

Starting him tonight aligns with both form and function. It rewards the evidence of the past rounds and addresses the tactical problem most cup opponents pose - deep blocks and crowded penalty areas. If he starts, Madrid gain immediacy and a pressing trigger up front. If he comes off the bench, he still shapes the ending. Either way, his arc is bending upward fast, and the smarter plan is to ride it. Five in six is not an accident - it is a map of where to pass and where to run.