Facing 'The Giant Killer' Alcoyano, Real Madrid Wants To Erase The Most Embarrassing Defeat In The Copa Del Rey

Real Madrid (Twitter @realmadrid)

JAKARTA - Real Madrid is desperate to bury the memory of one of the most humiliating defeats in recent years when they face third division Alcoyano for the second year in a row in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.

Twelve months after being humiliated 1-2 by the low-budget side from a small town near Alicante, Real will return to the El Collao stadium for the rematch which will take place in front of a full 4,850 home fans.

Last year, spectators were prevented from watching Alcoyano's massive victory due to restrictions related to the spread of COVID-19.

🎥 𝙀𝙉 𝘿𝙄𝙍𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙊 | ¡Último entrenamiento antes del partido 🆚 @CD_Alcoyano! https://t.co/1RYbIT1GuM

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 4, 2022

"If we do it again, we can do it again", Alcoyano captain Juli Cerda told a news conference.

"We know we are going to watch Real with hurt feelings and there won't be a surprise factor like last year. They may have learned a lesson but this time we will be with our fans and they will be facing a completely different atmosphere."

Coach Carlo Ancelotti's final line-up has yet to be decided after he confirmed Vinicius Jr, Ferland Mendy, Thibaut Courtois, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema will not travel.

Defending champions Barcelona will travel to Andalucia to face another third-tier side, Linares Deportivo.

Xavi Hernandez's side beat Mallorca 1-0 on Sunday despite missing 14 players due to COVID-19, injury, and suspension. For the umpteenth time, Xavi was forced to rely on a squad that has been trimmed to defend the title.

Xavi hoped Pedri could return to play after a long absence due to injury, but those plans had to be put on hold after the 19-year-old midfielder tested positive for COVID-19.

He is the 14th Barcelona player to test positive in recent days.

On Thursday, Atletico will face third-division neighbors Rayo Majadahonda at the 68,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium in an away position.

Majadahonda asked the Spanish Federation to shift the match to a bigger arena because they usually play matches at Atletico's training facility which has a capacity of around 3,500 people.

Current Spanish regulations state that places with a capacity of more than 5,000 can only be filled at 75 percent of their capacity to control the spread of COVID-19.