The Copa del Rey is Spain’s oldest tournament — and the visit of Real Madrid to the fourth-tier side Arandina on Saturday showed why it is also the most unique.
Like the other teams contesting the Spain Supercup next week in Saudi Arabia, Madrid entered the competition in the round of 32. They were drawn against semi-professional Arandina, one of two teams left from the Segunda Federacion — Spanish football’s regional fourth tier, which houses 90 teams across five groups.
Arandina are from Aranda de Duero, a city in the northern province of Burgos with just over 33,000 inhabitants. The region is more known for its typical dish of suckling lamb and regional wines, but football took precedence on Saturday — and that was clear as soon as you arrived there and passed the club’s Juan Carlos Higuero stadium, also known as El Montecillo (the mound).
Arandina flags shared centre stage with Christmas decorations on many streets. As families met for lunch on January 6 — the day on which Spaniards celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings — conversations revolved around the visit of the 14-time European champions.
“The match of the century in Aranda,” was how Madrid sports daily AS put it. The front of the town hall was illuminated in blue and white, Arandina’s colours. Even the baby Jesus was decked out in club colours on the city’s traditional floating Nativity set on the Douro River.
Drums and chants could be heard three hours before kick-off. In the main square, the Plaza del Trigo, a giant screen had been erected to follow the match along with a replica of the trophy. For those who went to the stadium, there were long queues in temperatures of 3C (37F). Tickets were unnumbered and a sign read: “Please be seated on a first-come, first-served basis”.
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After some controversy between the city council and the club, the stadium had been adapted to double its capacity to around 10,000 spectators. Tickets for members were free and others were priced between €40-€75 (£34-£65; $44-$82).
Madrid had guided Arandina with the preparations, including improvements to lighting, security checks and the pitch, which had been in a terrible state after heavy rain in the previous round against The league side Cadiz.
All eyes were on Jude Bellinghameven though he started the game on the bench. He was cheered by fans even before the warm-up, with a group of children surrounding Bellingham, 20, for a selfie as he entered the pitch.
Jude, everyone's idol @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/Dkq0ASGJrk
— Mario Cortegana (@MarioCortegana) January 6, 2024
There was also intrigue around Arda Gulerwho finally made his Madrid debut after three injuries since his arrival from Fenerbahce in the summer. The Turkish midfielder’s parents and sister were in the stands and he exchanged a few words with head coach Carlo Ancelotti as they passed each other on the sidelines. Centre-back Alvaro Carrillo and right-back Vinicius Tobias joined him in making their first appearances for Madrid.
There were no professionals in Arandina’s team. Their captain and the scorer of the goal that eliminated Cadiz, Jorge Gonzalez, is known as ‘Pesca’ — fishing or catch — because he works at his family’s fishmongers, waking up at 4am every day.
When the match started, one chant was repeated above the rest: “Yes, we can!”
Guler was Madrid’s most impressive player in the first half — he played an hour in total — snatching the ball out of Dani Ceballos’ hands for a free kick that rattled the woodwork. But with it being 0-0 half-time, the dream was still on.
Guler impressed on his Madrid debut (Federico Titone/Anadolu via Getty Images).
“We’ve already held out for half the game,” Arandina’s announcer said, with emotion in his voice. “I don’t know how long we’ll hold out, but we have to dream.”
There were brief signs of nervousness from Ancelotti, such as when he was in a heated discussion with his assistant Francesco Mauri. But then Brahim Diaz showed his quality in forcing a penalty that was converted by Joselu. Brahim then put Madrid 2-0 up before providing the low cross for Rodrygo to seal the win.
Bellingham did not play but offered one of the ball boys his club-branded blanket to protect him from the cold. It was the kind of gesture that has endeared him to supporters since he arrived in Spain last summer.
Bellingham giving a blanket to one of the children who is a ball boy 🎩@TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/jtMOAEI09J
— Mario Cortegana (@MarioCortegana) January 6, 2024
Only Nacho’s late own goal disturbed Ancelotti — a footnote to the game that brought huge joy to the Arandina fans. “Proud of our players!” they chanted when the referee blew the final whistle.
Then it was time for the Arandina players to swap shirts with their Madrid counterparts. A list had been published in the Spanish press before the game showing who had requested each Madrid player — as if it were a letter written to the Three Kings asking for presents. Luka Modric was the most popular option with nine requests, compared to three for Bellingham.
At the tiny open-air press conference, The Athletic asked Ancelotti what the most special thing had been about the visit to Aranda de Duero. His answer provoked laughter all around.
“The hotel, which is very good,” he said. “And the wine and the lamb is fantastic.”
(Top photo: Federico Titone/Anadolu via Getty Images)
