After a strong performance in the Copa del Rey, which was their second match of the year, Real Madrid shifts focus to pursue what would be their third title of the season in Saudi Arabia, where they must first get through a stage before competing for the final title.

Copa del Rey Preceding the Supercopa de España

It was the perfect time to give more rest to the regular starters, and that’s exactly what Carlo Ancelotti did. He fielded an alternate lineup to face Deportivo Minera.

In fact, the starting eleven featured some new faces, including the debut of youth player Lorenzo Aguado, and Raúl Asencio returned to the starting lineup. Fran García and Loren completed a completely rejuvenated defense, while players like Arda Güler and Endrick appeared in attack, leading the team to a resounding win.

Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Arda Güler gave the team a 0-3 lead at halftime, and the match ended 0-5 with a brace from the young Turkish player and one more goal from Luka Modric.

The goals of Real Madrid vs Deportivo Minera

Heading to Saudi Arabia for the Supercopa de España

Following this match, the team will travel to Saudi Arabia to compete in a four-team "mini-tournament" featuring Barcelona, Athletic Club, and Mallorca—Real Madrid's next opponent before thinking about the final.

Here, Real Madrid will be fighting for their third title of the season, after securing the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta and recently winning the Intercontinental Cup in Qatar.

Path to the Title: Crucial Matches for the Favorites

The tournament kicks off on Wednesday with the Barcelona vs. Athletic Club match, followed by Real Madrid vs. Mallorca on Thursday. All matches will take place at King Abdullah Stadium, known as ‘La Joya’, with a capacity of 62,345 spectators. The matches will be played in front of a limited number of fans due to the distance from Spain.

Real Madrid Defends the Title and Chases 14th Supercopa

Real Madrid arrives with high morale following their La Liga victory and the presence of stars like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. The team will defend the title they won last year, when they defeated Barcelona 4-1, with Vinícius Júnior scoring a hat-trick. However, the Brazilian forward is facing a potential suspension after his expulsion against Valencia.