Copa del Rey: Deportiva Minera vs Real Madrid – Preview, Team News, Potential XI, H2H, and Prediction

Spanish champions Real Madrid kick off their 2024-25 Copa del Rey campaign with a clash against fourth-tier outfit Deportiva Minera at the Cartagonova Stadium on Monday evening, 6th January. 

After Barcelona cruised to the Copa del Rey Round of 16 with a thumping 4-0 victory over Barbastro on 4th January, Los Blancos will be eager to deliver a performance of intent and their arch-rivals in the next round.

Copa del Rey: Deportiva Minera vs Real Madrid – Preview

Deportiva Minera

Minera were toiling in the fifth division of Spanish football last season, but a heroic push helped them secure promotion to the Segunda Federacion in 2024-25. They have been in decent form this term, amassing 24 points from 17 games and climbing to eighth place in the rankings.

They would have been in a much better position had they not hit a rough patch towards the end of 2024. Since November, The Red Eagles have only managed to secure one win in their last eight league meetings (4 L, 3 D). In their last outing, Minera succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Juventud Torremolinos.

Real Madrid

Minera’s lofty opponents, Real Madrid, have also not been at their best this season, with them failing to showcase their characteristic brand of flamboyance and assert their dominance. They are still, however, in an excellent position in the La Liga race. Picking up 43 points from 19 games, Los Merengues are sitting at the top of the Spanish top-flight rankings. Noisy neighbours Atletico Madrid (41 points) could return to the top if they win their game in hand, but Carlo Ancelotti’s men surely have the quality to catch up down the road.

Los Merengues are currently on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions (5 W, 1 D), with them winning their last three matches. In their previous outing, they completed a stunning comeback to beat Valencia 2-1 a the Mestalla Stadium, with Luka Modric (85′) and Jude Bellingham (90+5′) striking in the dying embers of the game.

Deportiva Minera vs Real Madrid – Team News, Potential XI, and Head-to-Head

Deportiva Minera – Team News and Potential XI

Minera boss Jose Perez Veiga has a fully fit squad available for the blockbuster Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid.

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

Real Madrid – Team News and Potential XI

Los Blancos, meanwhile, will be without Vinicius Jr. after he picked up a straight red card for an altercation with the Valencia goalkeeper. Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, and David Alaba will continue to recover. We expect Ancelotti to field a changed XI against Minera, allowing bench-warmers a chance to impress.

Potential XI: Lunin; Vazquez, Asencio, Aguado, Garcia; Camavinga, Modric, Ceballos; Guler; Brahim, Rodrygo

Head-to-Head

This will be the first official meeting between the two teams.

Deportiva Minera vs Real Madrid – Prediction

Minera will play with a lot of intent against Real Madrid, but we do not think they can overwhelm the 15-time European champions in their Copa del Rey clash.

Prediction: Minera 0-3 Real Madrid