No respite for the people of Madrid! While the year got off to a flying start last Friday against Valencia, Real Madrid continues its hellish schedule. On this January 6, Three Kings Day, the Whites hope to offer a nice gift to their supporters. In the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, they face Segunda club RFEF La Deportiva Minera at the Cartagonova Municipal Stadium in Cartagena.
Carlo Ancelotti favors rotations before the Super Cup
With a busy schedule – Real Madrid will play again in three days in Jeddah against Mallorca in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup – Carlo Ancelotti will have to manage his troops carefully. If Juan Blaya, president of La Deportiva Minera, expressed his wish to see the Madrid first team in action (“We hope that all the stars will come”), the Italian technician should favor rotations. An approach which will allow certain executives to breathe while offering playing time to young Castilla players.
According to information from Marca, the Aguado brothers and Gonzalo García could start the match, while the usual attacking trio would be left to rest. A great opportunity for these young people to wear the colors of the first team and prove their worth in a high-risk match against a 4th division team, determined to pull out all the stops.
A major challenge for La Deportiva Minera against Real Madrid
For their part, the Murcians are approaching this meeting without pressure, aware that they have nothing to lose against one of the giants of European football. Currently 8th in the Segunda RFEF, José Pérez Veiga’s men are having a decent season in their championship, but it is above all their performance in the Copa del Rey which is impressive. After crushing Tudelano, a 3rd division team, with a score of 5-0, they demonstrated their mental strength by eliminating Alavés, residents of Liga, during a breathtaking penalty shootout.
These performances allowed them to reach the round of 16, an already historic feat for this club. For the players, facing Real Madrid represents a unique opportunity to measure themselves against the football elite and forever mark the history of the region. In front of an expected large audience committed to their cause, they hope to create the feat. As La Deportiva Minera captain Cristhian Britos told Cadena SER: “We have a 1-2% chance of eliminating them, but we will stick to it.”
Faced with an overmotivated opponent and supported by an excited public, Real Madrid will have to combine seriousness and efficiency to avoid any unpleasant surprises. This match, although unbalanced on paper, remains a delicate test in a busy schedule. For La Deportiva Minera, it is the opportunity to experience a moment of glory and, perhaps, to write an unforgettable page in the club’s history.
Thibaud.
