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Big sides start King's Cup, but few surprises likely

Xinhua, November 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Spain's big clubs go into action in the matches corresponding to the last 32 of the King's Cup knockout competition over the coming days.

The ties are played on a home and away basis with the side from the lower division playing the first match at home in order to give the ties extra excitement and creating a few surprises.

Wednesday will see Real Madrid play the return leg of their tie against Cultural Leon, however, as their first leg was brought forward to allow them to play in the World Club Championship.

A 7-1 win against the third tier side leaves nothing to play for although the game will allow Casemiro to return to action after over 2 months out with a broken leg.

Tuesday kicks off the Cup games with three all Primera Liga ties as Leganes take on struggling Valencia, Sporting Gijon entertain Eibar and Betis play Deportivo la Coruna, while second division Alcorcon are at home to Espanyol.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid play on Wednesday, with Barcelona, still in shock after Sunday's dreadful performance in San Sebastian, travelling to play Hercules in Alicante, while Atletico go to Salamanca to face Guijuelo, a side well-known for their first team shirt, designed to look like slices of cured ham, the town' s most famous product. Indeed Guijuelo are making the most of the occasion by giving everyone in the crowd a free ham sandwich before the match.

Villarreal are in Toledo, while Sevilla travel to the Balearic Islands to face Formentera in the day' s other standout games.

Athletic Bilbao make a short trip to play former local rivals Racing Santander on Thursday with Racing looking to perform above the third tier status they now occupy against a rival that has struggled away from form, and in-form Real Sociedad will play in Valladolid.

The first legs may produce some surprises, especially if Primera Liga coaches rest key players, but with the return leg to be played in the week before Christmas most of the big guns will expect to qualify for the last 16 without too many problems. Endit