It was a strange occasion. Deportiva are a fifth-tier team hailing from Llano del Beal in southeast Spain, a town with a population of just 1,300 and a stadium so small the match was moved to Cartagena, and a stadium which accommodated 8,000 spectators – most of whom were madridistas.

Real Madrid kick off their 2024–25 Copa del Rey campaign against Deportiva Minera. Of all the trophies in the sport, the Copa del Rey continues to pose a great challenge for Real Madrid. Over the last decade,