Real Madrid make their Copa del Rey debut against fourth-tier Deportiva Minera on Monday evening at 7pm, with Carlo Ancelotti expected to rotate heavily. The match is sandwiched between a demanding win over Valencia and a trip to Saudi Arabia to face RCD Mallorca in the Spanish Super Cup on Thursday evening.
Vinicius Junior is available despite his red card against Los Che, but the Brazilian is expected to rest. Diario AS believes that Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz will start in their preferred positions either side of Endrick Felipe, who has not played since December 14 and has not started a match against Lille since October 2.
Arda Guler is another player short of minutes who will start the match, as will center back Raul Asencio. Ancelotti confirmed that Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois would stay home for the match, and Lucas Vazquez will travel, but it will be a rare opportunity for a new Castilla product with Loren Aguado at right-back.
Marca have agreed on the starting XI, except for one choice: they think 17-year-old centre-back Diego Aguado will get a start in place of Aurelien Tchouameni in what is a first-ever match for Los Blancos in Cartagena.
Minera defeated Tudelano in the first round of the Copa, before eliminating La Liga side Alaves in the second round. A 2-2 draw against the Basques thanks to goals from Sandji Baradji and Jose Mas forced a penalty shootout in which they emerged victorious.
Marca predicted XIs:
Deportiva Minera: Fran; Mas, Monty, Algar, Juanmi; Domi, Petcoff, Britten; Baradji, Perdomo and Ferran.
Real Madrid: Lunin; Lorenzo, Asencio, Aguado, Fran Garcia; Camavinga, Modric, Guler, Brahim; Rodrygo and Endrick.
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