El Llano del Beal (Cartagena, Murcia), a small village nestled at the foot of the Sierra Minera, was the birthplace of Club Deportiva Minera on January 16, 1949. Established by the mining company Minera Celdrán SA, the club’s name comes from its land reception, the Municipal Ángel Celdrán. With a capacity of around 2,000 spectators, this stadium, built in the 1950s when mining activity and the local population were larger than today, has more seats than the current population of the village, which is only 1,300 inhabitants.
Last year, for its 75th anniversary, the club reached a milestone by becoming champions of Group XIII of the Tercera RFEF, thereby advancing to the fourth division of Spanish football, their highest level ever (Segunda RFEF). After a dream season, the village continues to celebrate, especially after eliminating Alavés in a penalty shootout in the Copa del Rey on December 5. This feat took place at the Cartagonova stadium, home to Segunda División team Cartagena, which can accommodate around 15,000 spectators. This Monday, just 10 days away from another anniversary, the team will experience one of its most significant days since its creation when they face Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey at 7:00 p.m. (La 1), almost all tickets are already sold.
The village is experiencing a fairy tale with this meeting, and it is well deserved, given the history of the club and the size of the municipality. Deportiva Minera is the team representing the smallest locality among all the clubs in the top four divisions of Spanish football. “It’s the greatest thing that has ever happened to our village. It looks like we won the lottery without even playing,” said José García, a 76-year-old resident of El Llano del Beal, who walks proudly with his cane, his cap and his sunglasses. García was present in Cartagonova when the Murcian team eliminated Alavés. “Who would have thought that I would see Minera take out one of Spain’s heavyweights! We were all stunned, looking around, and there were tears of joy everywhere,” he recalled with excitement.
However, there is one notable anecdote about this match. In the club office, a small room just off the pitch, a large plaster Real Madrid crest stands out among dozens of photos showing the team through the seasons. What explains this? The passion of Bienvenido Gallego, a 73-year-old honorary president of Minera. “I’m excited about this match because I’m a madridista,” he shares. Gallego played for Minera in the 1960s and, after hanging up his boots, also became the club’s president. Among the many framed photos is a particularly special image comprising two photos. On the left, Gallego is photographed in 1998 with his father at the Ángel Celdrán, and on the right, the same scene 43 years earlier.
To try to beat Real Madrid, Minera is counting on a player who could be described as a true “giant killer”. This is Damián Petcoff, a 34-year-old Argentine midfielder whom José García calls “the best in the club”. Petcoff has just renewed his contract for another year, extending it until 2026, and is one of the most experienced players in the Cartagena team. He played in Segunda División matches with Córdoba in the 10/11 season and with UD Logroñés in 20/21. Petcoff played in the Copa del Rey in the 21/22 season with Atlético Baleares, where they eliminated two Primera División teams: first Getafe, then Celta de Vigo, before losing 0–1 in the round of 16 against Valencia, the future finalist.
-This time he faces the white team with even higher stakes. “This match must be experienced as a unique opportunity because it is the closest we will ever get to playing against a top team. The key is not to see them as superior and to try to compete as best we can “, explains Petcoff in an interview with this newspaper. He added: “It’s clear they have players of international quality, on another level. They are brilliant individually, but I think it’s their teamwork that makes them difficult because if you focus on one, you neglect the other who will benefit in the end, everyone is crucial, and it’s not like teams at our level where you can just mark number 10 or number 8. However, if he has to name a player from Ancelotti’s squad, it is the club’s new star, Kylian Mbappé. “For me he is currently the most decisive player because of his physical power and quality.”
For Petcoff, the essence of this match lies in playing as a united team without cracks. “We have to be patient, not lose our calm, because three of our players together are worth one of them. For me, it is essential to stay united, to help each other, to suffer for our teammate, and to play as a team “, he shares. He concluded jokingly: “If we advance, we should head straight to the final. Making it real is quite difficult, but after all, you should never lose hope. As they say, to get to the final you have to play against the best.”
“I don’t know if it’s the most important match because I’ve had playoff and promotion matches, but it’s one of the most beautiful. Just a week ago, my grandfather passed away, and I’m sure he would have been delighted to see me on television Plus, it’s Real Madrid, a dream come true for him”, shares the Argentinian, ready to contribute to a match that. out of the ordinary.
Through hard work and perseverance, Minera aims to find her diamond and reach the next King’s Cup draw. The knockout tournament provides opportunities for smaller teams to achieve feats similar to those achieved in the past by clubs like Real Unión, Alcorcón or Mirandés. Minera aspires to join the ranks of those teams that once made headlines and left their mark on history.
