Football 29w1y

Deportiva Minera 0-5 Real Madrid: Arda Guler Takes Home Man of the Match Award in Copa del Rey Clash 3e181o

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By
Sushan Chakraborty
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Sushan Chakraborty Sports Editor

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Published07 Jan 2025

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Spanish champions Real Madrid made light work of fourth-tier outfit Deportiva Minera in their Copa del Rey Round of 32 clash on Monday night, 6th January. The All-Whites dominated proceedings from start to finish and cruised to a comfortable 5-0 victory at the Cartagonova Stadium. 

Coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded a much-changed XI for the Copa del Rey clash, with Federico Valverde the lone survivor from the team that beat Valencia 2-1 on 3rd January. The 10-man overhaul, however, did not hurt Real Madrid, as they got down to business right away.

Valverde drew first blood for the visitors in the fifth minute, finding the back of the net with a fine volley after a Minera defender botched his clearance. Eight minutes later, Fran Garcia spearheaded a rapid Real Madrid attack, dashing down the left flank and swinging a cross into the box. Minera did well in clearing the delivery out of the box but could not shake the left-back off. After regaining possession, Garcia put in another cross, and this time, Eduardo Camavinga headed it in.

In the 28th minute, Turkish starlet Arda Guler got on the scoresheet, receiving the ball from Valverde on the edge of the box before dispatching a fine left-footed effort. His shot took a couple of fortunate deflections on its way in.

The ageless Luka Modric added the fourth in the 55th minute. The maestro received the ball from Brahim Diaz on the left before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net, bending it around the Minera defence and past the goalkeeper. Finally, in the 88th minute, Guler scored the fifth of the night, applying a tidy, first-time finish to find the back of the net from Garcia’s cutback into the box.

Real Madrid Ace Arda Guler Was the Man of the Match Against Deportiva Minera 6t175y

Guler has not gotten enough chances to impress this season, with Ancelotti opting to go with more experienced players in La Liga and UEFA Champions League matches. The 19-year-old got a chance to shine in the Copa del Rey clash against Deportiva Minera, and boy did he make it count. He slid into little pockets of space time and time again, linked up flawlessly with teammates, carried the ball with confidence, created many goalscoring opportunities, and scored two fine goals.

In the Copa del Rey Round of 32 clash with Minera, Guler completed 61 es with 86% accuracy, created five chances and three big chances, took seven shots, pulled off three dribbles, and won eight of 12 duels. It was a complete performance from the talented No. 15.