Copa del Rey | Round of 32

Jan 6, 2025 at 6pm UK

Estadio Municipal Cartagonova

Deportiva Mineravs.Real Madrid

Match preview

Minera may have been a fifth-tier outfit last season, but they've secured promotion to the Segunda Federacion for the 2024-25 campaign, and a solid season in Group 4 has left them in eighth position, picking up 24 points from 17 matches.

The Red Eagles haven't won a league match since late November, getting just two points from their four games, and they'll go into the match after a 1-0 home loss to Juventud Torremolinos.

The last time Minera won was in the Copa del Rey on December 5, when they beat Alaves 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Now they'll be looking to record one of the biggest wins in their history.

Jose Perez's side thrashed Tudelano 5-0 in the first round of this season's Copa del Rey before beating Alaves last time out, and it'll be interesting to see how the team perform against the reigning Spanish champions.

Real Madrid returned to action after the winter break against Valencia on Friday night, and it did look like Carlo Ancelotti's side would suffer a narrow defeat in their opening match of 2025.

They were 1-0 up against Valencia, with Real Madrid missing a penalty and then being down to 10 men after Vinicius Junior got sent off. Luka Modric made it 1-1 in the 85th minute, but then Bellingham scored in the last minute to give Real Madrid the win.

Real Madrid are now top of the La Liga table, but their next four matches could be in the cup competitions, as they will head to Saudi Arabia next week for the Spanish Super Cup, facing Mallorca in the semi-finals of the competition ahead of a potential final against Athletic Bilbao or Barcelona, before potentially being involved in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey.

The team won't be back in league action until 19 January, when they'll be home to Las Palmas. Ancelotti will have to carefully manage his squad during this stage of the season, but Real Madrid often do well in the second half of the campaign.

Real Madrid have won the Copa del Rey 20 times, with their last success in the competition coming in 2022-23, but they were knocked out in the last-16 stage of last season's tournament by Atlético Madrid.

Recent Performance

Deportiva Minera Copa del Rey form:WW

Deportiva Minera form (all competitions):WLWDDL

Real Madrid form (all competitions):WWDWWW

Team News

Omar Perdomo has been on fire for Minera this season, scoring five goals and setting up two more in 15 games. The 31-year-old will be in the home side's starting XI for this Copa del Rey match.

Pipo has scored four goals and made four assists this term and is also set to be in the starting side, while there should be a spot through the middle for the experienced Francis Ferron, with Cristhian Britos featuring in a deeper area.As for Real Madrid, Vinicius is suspended following his red card against Valencia, while Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba remain on the sidelines, but the latter will be back before the end of the month.

Head coach Ancelotti is planning to make some changes for this match, with Andriy Lunin, Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia, Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler and Endrick expected to be among the starters. Los Blancos are also keeping their eye on the Spanish Super Cup semi-final.

Jesus Vallejo isn't in Ancelotti's long-term plans and has only played 10 minutes of football this season, but there could be a spot for the 27-year-old in the middle of the back four on Monday evening.

Possible starting lineup

Deportiva Minera possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Mas, Monty, Vera, Heredero; Pujante, Petcoff, Britos, Pipo; Perdomo, Ferron

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Lunin; Vazquez, Asencio, Vallejo, Garcia; Ceballos, Tchouameni; Brahim, Modric, Guler; Endrick