Preview: Arandina vs Real Madrid live
Preview
Real Madrid, the current Copa del Rey champions, will be looking to secure a place in the last-16 of this year’s tournament as they face Arandina, a fourth-tier team, on Saturday. Real Madrid, who have won the tournament 20 times, are aiming to avoid a major upset in Spanish football as they take on Arandina in the round of 32.
Arandina and Barbastro are the only two teams from the fourth tier still in the competition this season. Arandina recently moved up from Tercera Federacion to Segunda Federacion, but they have struggled in the current campaign, sitting at the bottom of Group 1 with 10 points from two wins, four draws, and 10 losses in 16 league matches.
Despite their challenging season, it is surprising that they have made it this far in the Copa del Rey, marking their best-ever performance in the competition. Arandina defeated Real Murica 1-0 in the first round and then secured a 2-1 victory over Cadiz in the last round. They have not played since a 3-1 loss to Marino de Luanco on December 17, and it is uncertain whether the long break will benefit or hinder them in their upcoming match.
Real Madrid recently secured a 1-0 victory over Mallorca, with Antonio Rudiger scoring the winning goal in the 78th minute. The team has an impressive record of 15 wins, three draws, and one loss in 19 league matches, placing them at the top of the table with 48 points. Real Madrid is currently ahead of second-placed Girona by head-to-head record, with a significant 7-point lead over third-placed Atletico Madrid and fourth-placed Barcelona.
The team, led by Carlo Ancelotti, has won their last four matches in all competitions and is set to face Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final next week. Real Madrid holds the Copa del Rey title, having triumphed in the competition for the 20th time in their history by defeating Osasuna 2-1 in last year’s final. Ancelotti, who recently extended his contract until June 2026, oversaw the team’s previous victories in the competition in 2013-14 and 2022-23.
Head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between both clubs.
Prediction
Arandina’s advancement in the competition is commendable, but we are hesitant to support their further progress. Ancelotti is expected to make adjustments to his top Real Madrid team, but the visitors are still likely to outmatch their opponents in this match.
