Talavera vs Real Madrid: Which Underdog Will Shock the Giants in This Unmissable Clash?

As the lights shine down on the modest Estadio El Prado this Wednesday, Real Madrid gears up for a Copa del Rey clash against underdogs Talavera, a fixture brimming with promise and peril in equal measure. Xabi Alonso, steering the Santiago Bernabéu giants, insists his squad is mentally primed to tackle this challenge head-on, keenly aware that cup competitions often play by their own unpredictable rules. This encounter isn’t just a mere formality; it’s a battlefield where respect, meticulous preparation, and unshakable focus will be the keys to survival. Meanwhile, Talavera, a club forged from merger fires just over a decade ago, stands firm despite its struggles in the upper echelons and a demanding league campaign. Their new boss, Alejandro Sandroni, approaches the David vs. Goliath scenario with transparent honesty and a refusal to sugarcoat the odds — yet he pins his hopes on passion’s unquantifiable power. Injuries and suspensions nibble away at Real’s usual lineup, inviting fresh faces into the spotlight and perhaps altering the rhythm of play. For Talavera, the absence of key players adds another twist in what promises to be a dramatic, gritty contest. As the giants prepare to extend their storied Copa legacy while taming fierce minnows, everyone’s eyes will be on this compelling tapestry of football dreams and daring.
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Talavera v Real Madrid preview

Xabi Alonso says Real Madrid are mentally ready to face Talavera at the 4,200-capacity Estadio El Prado in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

“We know that the cup is a special competition,” said Alonso, whose side won for the second time in six Liga matches with a 2-1 victory at Alaves on Sunday.

“It gives you the opportunity to play against teams you’ve never played before. But it’s also a competition in which there are big surprises, and we go into the game with respect and preparation.

“The conditions are a bit different to the ones we usually play in. Preparing for it with the necessary professionalism, seriousness and attitude is going to be fundamental.”

Founded as a fifth-tier team in 2011 after the merger of CF Talavera and Real Talavera, the hosts have spent six seasons in the fourth tier and eight in the third since then.

Talavera won promotion last season to the higher tier, in which they are second-bottom after winning four and losing nine of their first 16 league matches of the season.

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Argentinian manager Alejandro Sandroni expects the game to be “tremendously long” for his team and says they will “approach it in 10-minute increments”.

“One of the principles I’ve always had is not to lie to the players,” said Sandroni, who ended more than a year out of the game by taking charge on December 2.

“It’s very unusual for me to lie – to [the media], sometimes, but never to the players. The [opposition] players, I’ve told them, are superior in everything – not just physically, tactically or technically – by light years.

“As a team, there is one thing we are maybe above them in, which is passion. And passion moves mountains, so let’s see how far our passion takes us.”

Talavera v Real Madrid team news

Madrid defenders David Alaba, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Trent Alexander-Arnold are injured, but left-backs Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras and forward Endrick are available following suspensions.

Centre-back Antonio Rudiger, midfielders Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde and Liga top scorer Kylian Mbappe have minor issues, while reports in Spain suggest forward Vinicius Junior could be rested. Midfielder Thiago Pitarch, 18, could make his full debut.

Winger Valen Gomez is suspended for Talavera after being sent off in the 95th minute of their 2-1 home win over second division side Malaga a day after Sandroni was appointed.

Talavera are without former Morocco youth international Bilal Ouacharaf because the right-back has a hamstring problem.

Talavera v Madrid predicted starting lineups

Talavera starting XI: Jaime Gonzalez, Edu Gallardo, Alvaro Lopez, Sergi Molina, Luis Sanchez David Cuenca, Sergio Montero, Pitu Doncel, Pedro Capo, Nahuel Arroyo, Gonzalo Di Renzo

Real Madrid starting XI: Andriy Lunin, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, Franco Mastantuono, Fran Garcia, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Gonzalo Garcia, Arda Guler

How to watch Talavera v Madrid: TV channel, live online stream

Kick-off on Wednesday is at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 1 and streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.

A Premier Sports subscription costs £120 a year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.

Talavera v Real Madrid stats

• Sandroni has won both of his home matches since being appointed, including a 2-1 comeback victory on Sunday against a Merida side who had been 12 points above Talavera
• Talavera’s other match in this season’s Copa del Rey was a 4-1 win at fourth-tier Rayo Majadahonda on October 28
• Forward Gonzalo Di Renzo scored twice in that game as part of a run of four goals and an assist in the Argentinian’s first 10 appearances of the campaign, although he has not been directly involved in a goal since
• Alongside Di Renzo, defender David Cuenca is Talavera’s top scorer this season on three goals
• The minnows have reached this stage of the competition once before, losing after extra time to Cartagena – also in the third tier at the time – in 2017/18
• With 20 titles, Madrid are the third-most successful team in Copa del Rey history behind Athletic Club (24) and Barcelona (32)
• They have lost the most finals (21), ahead of Athletic Club (16) and Barca (11)
• The Copa del Rey was the only competition Alonso won twice during his time in Madrid’s midfield between 2009 and 2014, playing throughout their wins over Barcelona in the 2011 and 2014 finals
• Madrid have won away to lower-league opponents in the competition in four successive seasons since losing after extra time at third-tier Alcoyano at this stage in 2020/21, beating fourth-tier teams on each occasion
• Los Blancos have the most points and points per game away in this season’s Liga (W6 D3 L1) and have won two and lost one of their matches on the road in the 2025/26 Champions League.

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