Football has this weird way of making the impossible feel like a Tuesday afternoon. When Club Deportiva Minera vs Real Madrid was announced for the Copa del Rey Round of 32 in January 2025, nobody in the small village of Llano del Beal actually expected a miracle. But they wanted one. Honestly, who wouldn’t?
You have a team from the fourth tier of Spanish football (Segunda Federación) going up against the reigning kings of Europe. It’s the kind of David vs. Goliath story that makes the Copa del Rey the best tournament in Spain, period. People talk about the "Alcorconazo" or that time Real Madrid got knocked out by Alcoyano, and for a few weeks, everyone in Murcia was whispering, "Why not us?"
The Night the Red Eagles Met the Galacticos
The match didn't happen at Minera’s usual home, the Estadio Municipal Ángel Celdrán. It couldn't. With only 2,000 seats and facilities that are... well, modest... the game had to be moved to the Estadio Cartagonova in Cartagena.
About 14,000 fans packed into the stands. It was cold. It was January 6—Three Kings' Day—and for the local supporters, seeing Luka Modrić and Arda Güler step onto their turf was the only gift that mattered.
Real Madrid didn't just show up to go through the motions. Carlo Ancelotti put out a mix of hungry youngsters and legendary veterans. We saw the likes of Andriy Lunin in goal, protected by a makeshift backline including Raul Asensio and Diego Aguado. But the midfield? That was pure class. Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and the ageless Modrić controlled the tempo from the first whistle.
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Club Deportiva Minera vs Real Madrid: The Tactical Reality
If you were expecting a 0-0 grind, you were disappointed early. Federico Valverde opened the scoring just five minutes in. It was a classic Valverde strike—powerful, direct, and completely demoralizing for a side that had spent all week practicing their defensive block.
By the 13th minute, it was 2-0. Eduardo Camavinga found the net after some slick work from Fran García.
Minera tried. They really did. Their captain and midfielders like Petcoff worked themselves to the bone, but the gap in technical quality was just too wide. Real Madrid had 66% possession and fired off 33 shots. Thirty-three! Minera managed four. It wasn't a lack of effort; it was just a different sport.
The Arda Güler Show
The real story of the night, if you ask any Madridista, was Arda Güler. The Turkish gem was everywhere. He scored in the 28th minute to make it 3-0 before the break, and then he added a second late in the 88th minute.
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Güler’s performance showed why he’s considered the future of the club. His vision, his first touch, and that weirdly calm composure he has in the box... it’s kinda scary for a kid his age. Between his two goals, Luka Modrić chipped in with a goal of his own in the 55th minute.
Final score: 0-5.
Why This Match Still Matters for Minera
You might think a 5-0 drubbing is something to forget. Wrong. For Club Deportiva Minera, this was the pinnacle of their nearly 100-year history. Founded in 1927, they spent decades bouncing around regional leagues. In April 2024, they finally clawed their way into the fourth tier.
Facing Real Madrid brought eyes—and more importantly, revenue—to a club that usually plays in front of a few hundred people. The "Red Eagles" (Águilas Rojas) didn't win the game, but they won a lot of respect. They didn't park the bus and foul everyone; they tried to play football.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
Looking back at this fixture, there are a few things we can learn about the current state of Spanish football:
- The Depth of La Fabrica: Madrid’s ability to plug in players like Lorenzo and Diego Aguado into the first team for cup games is a testament to their academy's recent resurgence.
- The Magic of the Single-Leg Format: Even though Minera lost heavily, the single-leg format at the lower-league stadium (or a nearby larger one) is vital for the survival of small Spanish clubs. The gate receipts from this one game can fund a team like Minera for an entire season.
- Arda Güler's Role: This match proved that Güler needs more than just "garbage time" minutes. He thrives when he’s the focal point of the attack.
If you’re following the lower leagues in Spain, keep an eye on Minera in Segunda Federación – Group 4. They aren't the biggest club, but they’ve got a grit that most top-flight teams would kill for. They took their 5-0 loss on the chin, swapped jerseys with their idols, and went back to the grind of the fourth division. That's real football.
For Real Madrid, it was just another step toward more silverware. But for the people of Llano del Beal, it was the night the stars came down to earth.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
Check the official RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) archives for the full match report and heat maps. If you're scouting young talent, watch the full 90-minute replay to see how Fran García’s overlapping runs created both of Güler’s goals. Those tactical patterns are exactly what Ancelotti uses against low-block teams in La Liga.