Minera had reached the last 32 after La Liga side Alaves in the previous round, but there was no way they could come back against the 20-time champions, especially after Ancelotti introduced Vinicius and Mbappe in the second half. Captain Luka Modric doubled the lead in the 55th minute, before Guler completed his double in the 88th minute, sealing a 5-0 win.

Goal #1 for Eduardo Camavinga this season. 😅1️⃣

The highlight of the match was the 39-year-old Modric’s stunning finish into the far corner after a clever combination with Diaz, which brought the Cartagonova crowd to their feet despite their team being behind. “Luka is a gift for football and even better for those who can enjoy it up close,” said Ancelotti. “For me, it is a great gift. The way he prepares for a match like this, as if it were a final. It is a very important example for our young players.”

Real Madrid, who lead La Liga with 43 points, two points ahead of cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid but have played one game more (19 to 18), have set their sights on the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Ancelotti’s side, the defending champions, will play Mallorca in the semi-finals on 9 January. Should they reach the final, they could face Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao three days later.