PROBABLE LINEUPS |
REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Diarra, Varane, Marcelo Altintop, Sahin Callejon, Kaka, Granero Higuain | PONFERRADINA Quintana Malo, Samuel, Baro, Sergio Borja Valle, Ruiz, Isaias Borja, Yuri , Domenech |
Real Madrid go into the second leg against Ponferradina with a comfortable two-goal lead thanks to strikes in the first leg from Jose Callejon and Cristiano Ronaldo, and so Jose Mourinho's men are overwhelming favourites to progres.
Ronaldo surprisingly started the last Copa del Rey match but this was perhaps a ploy from his Portuguese coach to regain confidence for his star player after a poor display against Barcelona. CR7 scored a hat-trick in his last match against Sevilla so it appears he is back to his best, which would suggest that he may not be risked in a match that Madrid should comfortably win.
Expect Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain, and Esteban Granero to be employed in the attacking areas with Raphael Varane once again starting at centre back. Jose Callejon should be in the XI after impressing in his last few outings for the capital side.
Ricardo Carvalho is still sidelined with a back injury, while Sergio Ramos should also be rested after suffering a minor hamstring injury against Sevilla. Raul Albiol will miss the match as he serves his suspension after picking up two yellow cards in the first leg.
Ponferradina will be buoyed by their respectable performance against Madrid in the last game, so they will be looking to enjoy their time in the spotlight at Santiago Bernabeu.
DID YOU KNOW |
- Real Madrid defeated Ponferradina 2-0 in the first leg, thanks to goals from Jose Callejon and Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Real Madrid have won their last six Copa del Rey matches, including the final victory over Barcelona in April.
- The last time that Madrid lost a Copa del Rey match was last season when they were defeated 2-0 in a second leg against Levante. Lucky for Jose Mourinho's side, they had already won the first match 8-0.
- Ponferradina won their league game on Saturday 2-0 against Arandina. Brazilian striker Yuri scored both goals.
- The visitors have never competed in the top tier of Spanish football. The highest level they have competed in is the Segunda Division, one below the top flight.
- Ponferradina are second in Segunda B Group 2, five points adrift of league leaders Mirandes.
It would be an upset of momentous proportions if Ponferradina somehow achieved qualification against Real Madrid over two legs, and with Jose Mourinho's side going in to the match with a healthy two-goal advantage, the task is next to impossible for the Segunda B outfit.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 4-0 Ponferradina