Sevilla, Getafe and Racing Santander all hold advantages heading
into the return legs of their Copa del Rey quarterfinals matchups,
and second-division Celta Vigo has a valuable away goal against
Atletico Madrid.
Sevilla returns to the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium with a 3-0
lead over Deportivo La Coruna, Getafe welcomes Mallorca after a 2-1
win and Racing goes to Osasuna also leading 2-1.
After three straight wins in all competitions, Atletico is
now winless in two including last week's 1-1 draw to Celta.
"I'm disappointed with our offense," Atletico coach Quique
Sanchez Flores said after Sunday's 1-0 league loss to Getafe. "We
were too simple. We were slow and we couldn't create any chances."
Celta, which sits only one point above the relegation zone,
is the only remaining team not playing in top-flight football.
Figueres was the last lower-tier team to reach the last four, eight
years ago.
Atletico will be without suspended midfielder Paulo Assuncao
on Thursday.
Sevilla has now won two straight games after a poor start to
2010, and only a complete collapse on Wednesday will keep it from
reaching its third semifinal in four years after scoring three away
goals.
Deportivo not only has to overcome a hefty deficit but also
cope without standout player Filipe Luis, who is out for the rest
of the season with a broken ankle. Filipe, who was likely to be
called up for Brazil's World Cup squad, joined a list of injured
players with Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado and defender Brayan
Angulo also missing.
Filipe was set to be released from the hospital on Tuesday
after undergoing surgery to keep his ankle from being amputated.
"Just imagine how the changing room is. What every player is
experiencing is tremendous, but for Felipe it must to hurt the
most," Deportivo coach Miguel Angel Lotina said. "Sincerely, we are
in very bad shape."
Getafe is coming off a 1-0 win over Atletico on Sunday and
will want to put the game away on Thursday after breaking
Mallorca's perfect home record this season.
Forward Sergio Canales played only the last 23 minutes of
Sunday's 1-0 win over Sporting Gijon as coach Miguel Angel Portugal
rested the young Racing star. Racing is unbeaten in seven overall
with the 18-year-old striker taking on a more prominent role in the
team's plans.
Canales has scored five times in his last five appearances
and that impressive form has had Europe's top clubs circling to
sign him, with Real Madrid reportedly set to land the teenager.
