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 boss Carlo Ancelotti will make various changes to his usual starting line up when the defending Spanish and European champion takes on Deportiva Minera.

Federico Valverde played a key role in Real Madrid’s dominant 5-0 win over Deportivo Minera in the Copa del Rey, scoring a goal and further solidifying his importance in the squad. Following the

Indeed, Los Che led 1-0 entering the latter stages, with Real Madrid, who missed a penalty through Jude Bellingham, being reduced to 10 men courtesy of Vinicius Junior 's red card, but Luka Modric levelled the scores in the 85th minute before Bellingham came up with a last-gasp winner for the reigning Spanish champions.

Carlo Ancelotti talks about whether Vinicius Junior needs "more love" at Real Madrid.

One member of Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid squad played through illness to secure for himself Man of the Match honours in the club’s meeting with Deportiva Minera.That’s according to Blancos

Real Madrid’s recent Copa del Rey victory was overshadowed by the fallout from Vínicius Júnior’s red card against Valencia. The The post Real Madrid: Ancelotti defends Vínicius amid controversy first appeared on Africa Top Sports.