The quarter finals of the Copa del Rey in Spain get underway in midweek and the big guns are still running strong. Barcelona, Valencia, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid (current La Liga top four) are all in the final eight and they have managed to avoid each other. Despite Real Madrid having had a really shoddy season, they are joint favourites alongside Barcelona with 888Sport to win the title this year.
Here we preview the quarter-final line up, with each tie being played over two legs.
Valencia v Alaves
Valencia will be happy enough with this draw and they will look to come out of the gates strongly on home soil in the first leg and get this wrapped up. They are sitting in third place in La Liga while Alaves are just above the drop zone. So there is some gap between the two of them. Valencia have won their last three home games against Alaves and have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four at home against them. Valencia bagged a 2-1 away win at Alaves in the Spanish top flight this season and have won five of their last six against them home and away.
Tip: Valencia to win to nil
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla
This is a huge game. Atletico Madrid though have already won at home against Sevilla this season, taking a 2-0 win over them back in September. That is back to back home wins for Atleti over Sevilla now. They have really started to hit their stride with ten wins in their last twelve games in all competitions (D1 L1) and they have won their last four games on the bounce without conceding a goal as well. Sevilla had a powerful start to the season but with just two wins in their last six games played (winning both legs against Cadiz in the last round) they aren’t running hot at the moment and lost at strugglers Alaves in the league on the weekend.
Tip: Atletico to win to nil
Espanyol v Barcelona
Barcelona have not lost a match this season (if you don’t count the Spanish Super Cup). They are streaking away with the league title and they have won seven of their last eight games (D1) following a 4-2 win at Sociedad on the weekend, in which they were 2-0 down at one stage in. They have had a few struggles away from home with four draws in their last seven away games (D3). Espanyol are hit and miss at the best of times but just before the winter break, they took a home win over Atletico Madrid in a surprise La Liga result. But they were smashed 5-0 at the Nou Camp in the league back in September and have shipped at least three goals in five of their last six against Barcelona. The Catalans are unbeaten in nineteen games against Expansion in all competitions.
Tip: Away win and both teams to score
Leganes v Real Madrid
Here is where the quarter-final could get really interesting. Leganes get a crack at Real Madrid who are out of form and Zinedine Zidane is under increasing pressure. Los Merengues have failed to win any of their last three games and they have one win in their last five (D2 L2). They were stunned at home in a 1-0 loss against Villarreal in the league on the weekend and their away form reads just W2 D3 L2 in their last seven on the road in all competitions. Are Leganes good enough to pick them off though? Well, how about a four-match winning streak at home, with just one goal conceded? They have taken two wins over Villarreal in their last three home games (one Copa del Rey, one La Liga meeting) and Villarreal are just a point behind Real Madrid in the Spanish top flight, so comparable to them at the moment. Los Legionarios have seven clean sheets in ten home games this season and have to be worth a Double Chance at 888Sport in this first leg.
