Real Madrid strolled onto the pitch of the Cartagena stadium inflicting a little hand at Deportiva Minera. The score sheet is full since Valverde, Camavinga, Modric and Arda Güler twice took advantage of this fourth division opposition to improve their statistics.
Two names emerge victorious from this “easy” match: Arda Güler and Fran Garcia. First of all, the Spaniard, author of a double of assists, showed offensively what can differentiate him from Ferland Mendy in the eyes of Ancelotti. Author of a perfect cross for Camavinga, he reminded everyone of his quality in the exercise to place a caviar on the Frenchman’s head. But it was his second assist that caught the attention. Launched by Mbappé, he overflows to the left then delays to find the perfect cross angle and slip a goal ball to Arda Güler. A delay that we want to see again in La Liga, he who is often too messy with his crosses.
The other winner is Arda Güler. The Turk walked on water against this weak opposition by first seeking to offer goal balls to his teammates before turning into a serial scorer himself. With 5 key passes, 3 clear chances created and 2 goals, he is the clear man of this match and scores points compared to his young teammate Endrick, less prominent than expected.
He was the expected player in this Copa del Rey match for Real Madrid. Finally starting, the first time since the defeat in Lille, the Brazilian had the dream scenario to improve his statistics and strike a blow in the hierarchy. Instead, he is the only one among the starting midfielders and attackers who has not been decisive. He notably missed two clear chances, which everyone, and him first and foremost, would have liked to see in the end.
In the game, everything is not to be thrown away since he was able to be at the conclusion of beautiful movements and to create chances with little as during his one-two with the young Lorenzo Aguado. But the scoring opportunity was too good to be true for the youngster youth player of Real Madrid. And that of banging his fist on the table of hierarchy within Real Madrid for Endrick as well, since the Brazilian keeps his fragile position as the last attacker in everyone’s mind.
Carlo Ancelotti threw three youth players in the deep end: Lorenzo Aguado, Diego Aguado and Chema Andrés. The two Aguados started to form a 100% Castilla defense with Fran Garcia and Raul Asencio. Loren took the opportunity directly and could have scored. Diego was messy at the start of the match, undoubtedly because of his young age (17 years old) and the pressure inherent in his professional debut.
Chema Andrés, on the bench at kick-off, and Gonzalo Garcia, on the bench the entire match, may have some regrets. Ancelotti decided to deprive himself of the possibility of fielding a fourth youth player in his eleven to prefer a Valverde who continues again and again. But Chema still saw the color of the pitch for 30 minutes, which is not the case for Gonzalo Garcia. The Castilla striker, on fire recently, has still not been launched into the big leagues by Ancelotti, who preferred to offer half an hour for butter to the stars of Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr. and Mbappé.
Belgium
