Melilla vs Real Madrid
Copa del Rey 2018/19
Venue: Estadio Municipal Álvarez Claro
Date: Wednesday, 31 October
Kick-off: 6:30pm GMT
Real Madrid are in for a surreal Wednesday night as they play their Copa del Rey clash outside of Spain and without a full-time coach.
Real sacked Julen Lopetegui on Monday night following a disastrous run of form which culminated in a 5-1 Clasico thrashing at Barcelona.
Following five defeats in their last seven games, president Florentino Perez decided it was time for another regime change as Lopetegui lasted just over four months at the Bernabeu.
Former Bernabeu midfielder Santiago Solari is currently the caretaker coach, and takes Real to the north coast of Africa to face Segunda División B minnows Melilla in the first leg of their Copa round-of-32 clash.
Scroll down for Standard Sport’s comprehensive preview...
TV, online and live stream coverage
The match will not be televised live in the UK.
You can follow all the goals with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.
Prediction
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change
- Melilla to win 1-0: 60/1
- Real to win 3-0: 5/1
- Over 5.5 goals: 11/2
- 0-0 draw: 25/1
Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.
Why are Real Madrid playing in Africa?
Los Blancos will travel to the north coast of Africa due to the fact that Melilla is a Spanish autonomous city, on the border with Morocco.
Melilla, along with the city of Cueta, has been controlled by Spain for over 500 years. Both cities - officially claimed by Morocco - were free ports before Spain joined the European Union.
