Away at the Estadio Municipal Cartagonova to face Deportiva Minera in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid cruised to a commanding victory. Clearly superior, Carlo Ancelotti’s men triumphed 5-0.
Real Madrid will now progress to the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. After their hard-fought win over Valencia last Friday in La Liga, the Madrid side breezed past the modest Minera outfit on Monday. With a naturally rotated squad, Carlo Ancelotti’s charges began the match with high intensity. By the 5th minute, Federico Valverde opened the scoring with a superb volley inside the penalty area.
At the 13th minute, Camavinga doubled the lead with a powerful header. In great form, Arda Güler extended the scoreline just before the half-hour mark, followed by Modric’s easy goal in the 55th minute. Late in the game, Güler bagged his brace thanks to a fine assist from Fran Garcia. A very easy win for Real Madrid against SD Minera. In this relaxed match, where the Merengues displayed many positives, some players fell short of expectations. Here are the ratings for the Real Madrid players.
Andriy Lunin (6)
A very quiet evening for the Ukrainian goalkeeper. While he needs game time to prove he remains a vital squad member, he had very little to do against a weak Deportiva Minera side that offered almost nothing offensively, aside from a tame effort around the 53rd minute. We’ll see if the challenge is tougher in the Round of 16.
Fran Garcia (7)
Focused and diligent, the Spanish left-back had a solid game. Likely eager to prove himself, Fran immediately set the tone with high pressing and robust challenges on his opponents. Though he didn’t have much to deal with defensively, the 26-year-old was a significant offensive threat with his runs and crosses into the box, one of which led to Camavinga’s goal.
Diego Aguado (6)
In his first start for Real Madrid’s senior team, the young defender delivered a steady performance. Filling in for Antonio Rüdiger, who was rested ahead of the Spanish Super Cup midweek, Aguado made several crucial interceptions to halt the rare offensive moves from Deportiva Minera. A reserve player stepping in to ease the workload on regular starters, he made a positive impression for the remainder of the season.
Raul Asensio (6.5)
The leader in defence on Monday, the 21-year-old grabbed his opportunity in this one-sided encounter. Always aggressive, Raul Asensio showed no mercy to his opponents. Rarely tested defensively, the “Sergio Ramos” of Carlo Ancelotti’s current squad even made a few forays forward. An impressive outing for the Spanish prospect.
Lorenzo Aguado (6)
Like Diego, Lorenzo Aguado earned his first appearance for Real Madrid’s senior team. Filling in for Lucas Vazquez, who was rested, the young right-back put in a clean performance. Against Minera’s players, this was the perfect game to gain experience alongside professionals… which he did with precise tackles and generally accurate passing.
Eduardo Camavinga (6.5)
Nothing to critique about the French talent. Known for his composure and tenacity in duels, Camavinga played a significant role in Madrid’s calm evening by winning numerous balls. In addition to his midfield contributions, the former Rennes player provided valuable support to Fran Garcia on the left flank. With a goal to his name, it was a perfect night for Eduardo.
Federico Valverde (6)
The game’s first scorer, Valverde, fulfilled his role efficiently. Comfortable in midfield, the Uruguayan didn’t have much to do. A decent outing for Fede, who only played the first half (replaced by Dani Ceballos at half-time).
Luka Modric (6.5)
The Croatian veteran had a solid game. Against a very weak opponent, Modric managed his teammates’ play effortlessly. In orchestrating the game, the oldest player in Ancelotti’s squad showed his expertise without breaking a sweat. His easily scored goal to make it 4-0 sums up his relaxed evening.
Brahim Diaz (6)
He tried hard but failed to find the back of the net. Providing an early assist, the Moroccan player created several clear-cut chances but, seemingly unlucky on the day, didn’t hit the target.
Arda GĂĽler (8)
Deployed in attack, the Turkish youngster had a field day. Technically superior, Güler caused all sorts of problems for Minera’s defence. With two goals, his dribbling skills, and his incisive passes, he did everything right. A fantastic performance from the 19-year-old, who undoubtedly earned his plaudits.
Endrick (5)
The biggest disappointment of the night for Madrid. Struggling for game time, the young Brazilian forward failed to seize this opportunity to build confidence. Against the weak Deportiva Minera side, Endrick missed several big chances early in the match. While his teammates managed to score, the former Palmeiras player repeatedly found himself denied by the Minera goalkeeper.
He faded out completely in the second half, especially after the introductions of VinĂcius and Kylian MbappĂ©. He’ll need to regain confidence quickly to earn more playing time.
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