Sections
Services
Highlight
Óscar Bellot
Madrid
Domingo, 5 de enero 2025, 17:50
Dragging the aftermath of Vinicius's expulsion at Mestalla while flaunting their newly conquered league leadership, Real Madrid is set to descend into the mine this Monday. The Whites begin their participation in the Cup of Surprises by visiting the Cartagonova stadium to face Deportiva Minera. Eighth in Group 4 of the Segunda RFEF, the team from Llano del Beal, a small town in Cartagena with just 1,300 inhabitants, will confront the excitement of a modest club facing the most significant match in its 76-year history against the obligation of a giant that cannot afford a misstep in the KO tournament, while challenges pile up.
"It's an important competition that has brought us much happiness in recent years. We respect the opponent, the jersey, and the competition. We will try to do our best and advance," remarked Carlo Ancelotti ahead of a match where Real Madrid's second unit will take the spotlight to give the Italian strategist's praetorian guard some breathing room, and where several 'mirlos' shining with Castilla will also parade.
Carletto enlisted seven academy players in a squad without Courtois or Rüdiger, but featuring the rest of the available first-team members. Among them is Vinicius, who is awaiting the sanction the Competition Committee will impose on Tuesday after the red card he received against Valencia, which jeopardizes his presence in the Super Cup, but he can play the Copa match against Deportiva Minera in the meantime. Although the Brazilian is not expected to start in Cartagena, nor are Mbappé or Bellingham, having him on the bench to respond to a potential emergency is a significant asset for a coach whose team has little to gain but much to lose. "The Copa del Rey is not a problem until you're out," Ancelotti recalled.
Related news
The transalpine will therefore mix starters and regular substitutes, with injuries sidelining Militao, Alaba, and Carvajal, as well as Vallejo, who was ruled out due to a minor issue suffered during Friday's training that could have brought him out of obscurity. Arda Güler, however, is ready, having recovered from a flu and prepared to take the lead against Deportiva Minera. With Lunin fixed in goal, there will be room for the display of some of La Fábrica's promises like Loren Aguado, a right-back with good prospects who could bench Lucas Vázquez. Fellow defender Diego Aguado, midfielder Chema Andrés, forward Gonzalo, and goalkeepers Fran González and Diego Maestre are the other academy players, along with the already established Asencio, forming a block that must assert its credentials against a squad whose 'modus vivendi' is poles apart from that of Real Madrid's players.
Founded in 1949 and based in an area whose economy once revolved around heavy metal extraction, Club Deportiva Minera is enjoying the best period in its history. Almost always placed in the Preferente Autonómica, sometimes in the Primera Regional, and since 2011 in the Tercera División, it ascended for the first time to the Segunda RFEF at the end of last season. It has 512 members and a budget of 800,000 euros. These numbers pale in comparison to their powerful opponent this Monday, but they are allowing them to rub shoulders with more illustrious teams in the fourth tier of Spanish football.
A significant part of the credit goes to José Blaya, a seasoned businessman from the sea who took over the club in March 2023, saved it from relegation to Preferente, provided it with enough financial muscle last season to dominate Group XIII of the Tercera, and has doubled down this year. Another large part of the responsibility lies with José Pérez 'Popy', the coach who has given them the license to dream.
A former midfielder for Pinatar, Algar, and Deportiva Minera, Popy hung up his boots early to focus on his studies after a cruciate ligament rupture reduced his performance on the pitch. He graduated in Physical Education, completed a couple of postgraduate courses related to sports, and began a coaching career that he now combines with his position as a Local Police officer in the municipality of Los Alcázares.
He returned to Minera in June 2022, in his second season achieved promotion to Segunda RFEF, and months later, after knocking out Tudelano in the first round of the Copa del Rey, he managed to surprise everyone by eliminating a 'first division' team like Alavés. "We know it's very difficult, that Real Madrid is the best team in the world, but we will try to cling to the few chances we have," said the Los Alcázares agent this Sunday before a clash that has his parishioners in a frenzy. Causing an upset against the fifteen-time European champion would be a superb Epiphany gift.
Deportiva Minera: Francisco Martínez, José Mas, Monty, David Morante, Juanmi Heredero, Domingo Pujante, Damián, Cristian Britos, Pipo, Omar, and Francis Ferrón.
Real Madrid: Lunin, Loren, Tchouaméni, Asencio, Fran García, Camavinga, Ceballos, Brahim, Arda Güler, Rodrygo, and Endrick.
Referee: Alberola Rojas (Castilian-Manchego Committee).
Time: 19:00 h.
Stadium: Cartagonova.
TV: La 1.
Publicidad
Publicidad
Te puede interesar
Publicidad
Publicidad
Esta funcionalidad es exclusiva para registrados.
Reporta un error en esta noticia
Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados
¿Ya eres registrado?
Inicia sesiónNecesitas ser suscriptor para poder votar.