Now that defending champion Barcelona and Real Madrid are out, the
Copa del Rey looks to be wide open with the first leg of the
quarterfinals being played this week.
Celta Vigo is the only lower-tier club to make it into the
last eight, and it must overcome a revived Atletico Madrid side
that has won three straight games to turn the tide on its terrible
start to the season.
Sergio Aguero helped Atletico rally from a 3-0 first-leg
deficit to knock out second-division club Recreativo Huelva in the
last round. The Argentina striker, whose first half of the season
was mired by injury, will be needed Thursday as strike partner
Diego Forlan is in doubt with an ankle injury.
New Atletico signing Tiago could also feature after making
his debut in Sunday's 3-2 league win over Sporting Gijon, but
striker Eduardo Salvio is unlikely to be available until the return
leg next week as he is only due to arrive from Argentine club Lanus
on Tuesday.
"The players have more confidence, they believe in what they
are doing," Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said. "These
positive results have also played a part. After four straight wins,
we've got confidence and we believe in our chances."
Celta is coming off a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad to be last
in the standings in the second division.
Deportivo La Coruna welcomes Sevilla to El Riazor Stadium on
Wednesday, when Getafe travels to Mallorca.
Deportivo is hoping an impressive first half of the season
can continue in the domestic cup competition as it goes in search
of its third title and first since 2002.
Sevilla, meanwhile, is aiming for a second trophy in four
seasons with its league hopes having been realistically ended by a
4-0 loss to Barcelona on Saturday to fall 16 points behind the
Spanish leaders.
However, it was Sevilla that knocked out Barcelona on away
goals in the last round of the Copa del Rey. Madrid was beaten in
the second round of the competition by third-tier club Alcorcon in
a major upset.
Sevilla will be without defender Abdoulay Konko, who has a
groin problem to join an injury list that includes winger Diego
Perotti and defender Federico Fazio. Striker Luis Fabiano could
return from a long stint on the sidelines, but Frederic Kanoute and
Didier Zokora are at the African Cup of Nations.
Like Deportivo, Mallorca is doing well in the league, sitting
in fourth following its best ever start that includes a perfect 9-0
record at Ono Stadium. But Getafe has proved its mettle in the
competition, reaching back-to-back finals in 2007 and 2008.
Sergio Canales will get another chance to impress the El
Sardinero crowd when the teenage forward leads Racing Santander
against Osasuna.
The 18-year-old Canales' impressive debut season continued
Sunday by scoring another impressive goal in a 1-1 draw against
Valladolid on Sunday.
At least a dozen international scouts were in attendance,
including five from the Premier League, as Europe's top clubs
prepare to bid for one of Spain's most promising talents.
Canales, however, has stayed focused despite all the extra
attention as he hopes to help deliver Racing its first ever trophy.
"Each time I play, I'm feeling better and better," Canales
said. "The fans are pumped up for the cup. We have to try to get a
good result on Thursday."
