Real Madrid Confronts Its Past: A Special Push for Talavera’s Quartet Ahead of the King’s Cup Showdown

A clash of past and present

Real Madrid travels to Prado Stadium to face Talavera de la Reina, a third-tier club, on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey's Round of 32.

According to the Spanish daily AS, the royal club will confront its own history, as four Talavera players once wore Madrid's academy colors.

The quartet has been identified as David Cuenca, Luis Sanchez, Fran Rodriguez, and Arturo Molina.

This adds a special motivation for the visitors before the expected showdown against the underdog.

Here's how Madrid could line up for the match:

Goalkeeper: Andriy Lunin

Defence: Fran Garcia, Álvaro Carreras, Din Hussein, Raúl Asensio

Midfield: Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Guler

Attack: Rodrygo Goes, Gonzalo Garcia, Franco Mastantuono

Note: The four Talavera veterans will be eager to prove their roots matter, while Madrid eyes a comfortable progress to the next round.

Punchline 1: Madrid's defence might need a memory wipe — four former Madrid academy graduates are back to haunt them with nostalgia.

Punchline 2: If the past is a player, Talavera just subbed it on — and the referee won't whistle a history lesson, just a goal.