Preview: Spanish Cup quarters add to packed fixture list

There is no time for rest for the eight sides remaining in the King's Cup knockout competition in Spain as the tournament moves into the quarter-final stage this week.

The current format of the competition presents sides which progress with a packed fixture calendar, with the four teams who reach the semi-finals playing six midweek matches between the start of January and the first week in February.

The effects of such a packed schedule was easy to see on some during the last round of Liga Santander matches at the past weekend as many clubs involved in the last 16 of the Cup, such as Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao produced under-par displays, while Real Madrid saw their 40-game unbeaten run come to an end in Sevilla, (who had been their rival in the Cup).

Madrid will take heart from the fact that Wednesday sees them back in action with a home game against Celta Vigo.

Cristiano Ronaldo was rested for the return leg in Sevilla a week ago, but with the final growing ever-closer, Zinedine Zidane is unlikely to rest key players this time around, although he may carry out some squad rotations, with players such as Mateo Kovacic having a chance in midfield and Kiko Casilla playing in goal.

Celta are one of the best footballing sides in Spain and will be looking to keep the tie alive for next week's return leg in the Balaidos Stadium and forward Iago Aspas, the current top-scoring Spaniard in LaLiga will be the man to watch.

Wednesday also sees second division Alcorcon entertain Alaves, who on Sunday conceded their first away goal in over 450 minutes football and are a tough-well-organized outfit.

Meanwhile Thursday's matches see Eibar visit an Atletico Madrid side that has swapped flair for defensive solidity, while Barcelona have to play away to Real Sociedad in the Anoeta Stadium, where they have not won a league match in 10 years. Enditem