Real Madrid Crushes Deportiva Minera 5-0: Advances to Copa del Rey with Goals from Modric, Güler, and Valverde

Modric, Güler, and Valverde

Real Madrid gifted themselves a resounding victory on Three Kings' Day at the Cartagonova Stadium, advancing to the Round of 16 in the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 win over Deportiva Minera, a team from Spain's fourth division (Segunda RFEF). In this match, the less regular starters of the Madrid squad rose to the occasion.

Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler (twice), and the highly celebrated Luka Modric found the back of the net in a game where Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé came on as substitutes in the second half. Minera, ranked eighth in Group 4 of the fourth division and known for their shocking penalty shootout win over top-tier Deportivo Alavés in the previous round, proved no match for a debuting Madrid in this edition of the Copa. The lineup featured several changes, a logical move given that three days later, Madrid will face Mallorca in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup semifinals.

Valverde was the only player from Carlo Ancelotti's squad to retain his spot from the team that secured a 2-1 victory at Mestalla on Friday.

Within three minutes, Fran Martínez denied early scoring chances from Güler and Endrick Felipe Moreira in one-on-one situations. However, Valverde punished a series of defensive errors from Minera to open the scoring in the 5th minute. The efforts of Endrick and Brahim Díaz’s cross also contributed to the goal. Madrid maintained their momentum, doubling their lead in the 13th minute when Camavinga headed in a Fran García cross after already testing Martínez with a previous shot.

Minera’s strategy of playing out from the back, marked by frequent passing errors, was ruthlessly exploited by Madrid, who dominated the game well before the first quarter-hour. Minera came close to scoring shortly after when Omar Perdomo attempted a long-range shot from midfield against an advanced Andriy Lunin, but it missed the target.

Madrid continued to play seriously, creating a flurry of clear opportunities through Endrick, Brahim Díaz, Camavinga, Modric, Valverde, and Lorenzo Aguado. Güler added the third with a deflected individual effort after a monologue-like first half, during which Modric received applause from the local fans for his every move. The first half ended 3-0, with Fran Martínez as Minera’s standout performer and fans in the stands performing the wave, creating a festive atmosphere.

The second half followed the same script. Brahim, twice (including hitting the post), and Endrick missed further chances, while Minera responded with a tame effort from Omar Perdomo, easily saved by Lunin. Modric finally extended the lead with a quality finish, his name echoing through the stands in celebration.

Madrid’s relentless attack continued, with Fran Martínez preventing a heavier defeat. Ancelotti made four simultaneous substitutions in the 63rd minute, bringing on Vinícius, Mbappé, Lucas Vázquez, and academy player Chema Andrés. Though the intensity dropped slightly in the final 30 minutes, Madrid still created chances. Güler completed his brace following an assist from Fran García and a move initiated by Mbappé. Despite numerous attempts, Endrick left the field without a goal, visibly frustrated by his near-misses.