Real Madrid vs Melilla (Copa del Rey): Match Thread

For some reason I could only find this shirtless photo of Sergio Ramos for today’s Match Thread cover photo. Let me clarify that Sergio Ramos wasn’t even called up today, he is being rested, but I’m not going to let that hold me down.

You will recall that Real Madrid played Melilla, in Melilla, back on October 31 and we won 0-4 as the very first game under Solari. So today’s game should be little more than an exhibition match, but I still enjoy these types of games for several reasons:

1. It gives a chance for Real Madrid players who (fairly or not) don’t get as much playing time to get out onto the pitch and create a case for themselves and gain some match fitness and/or experience.

B. How cool is it that these guys on the Melilla squad will get a chance to play in the famed Colosseum that is the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. I love any time a smaller team gets this opportunity. A great story to tell their grandchildren one day.

Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves and be sure to respect this club and their players who will surely want to make a name for themselves today. Hopefully we go in, grab a simple win (even though we could technically lose and still make it through I think we can all agree we are not into a loss), and get out of there to prepare for this Sunday’s La Liga away match against Huesca.

Hala Madrid!