The two competing sides had significantly differing financial support. The annual salaries of Alcorcón's matchday squad added up to less than €1 million, compared to the €110 million salary of Real Madrid's squad. Real Madrid had spent €254 million on new signings the previous summer, out of a €420 million annual budget at the time. On the day before the first leg of the cup-tie versus Alcorcón, one of Real Madrid's corporate sponsors gave the entire senior squad new cars worth a total of €2 million. The average annual salary of an Alcorcón player at the time, €36,000, was less than Cristiano Ronaldo made in a day that season. At the time of the match, Real Madrid's youth side played in Segunda B alongside Alcorcón – and had lost only once in seven previous meetings between the two. However, Ronaldo was not included in the squad for the match, along with several other stars who were rested.
