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Alaves and Atletico favorites to qualify, Barca and Madrid in the balance in Kings Cup quarters

Xinhua, January 24, 2017 Adjust font size:

The return legs of the Spanish King's Cup knockout competition are played this week with two of the ties seemingly already resolved and two more still in the balance.

Tuesday night sees Alaves play in their Mendizorroza Stadium to defend the 2-0 lead two late goals from Ibai Gomez gave them against Alcorcon a week ago.

Although Alaves coach Mauricio Pellegrino is likely to rest first team regulars as he did a week ago, given that Alcorcon need to score three goals to have a chance of qualifying, it would be a major shock if Alaves failed to progress to the semi-finals for the first time since 2004.

Atletico Madrid are also clear favorites to reach the last four as Diego Simeone's side defend their 3-0 first leg lead away to Eibar.

Eibar defender Ander Capa said after the first leg that Eibar would now have to concentrate on the league and both sides will make changes for Wednesday evening.

The tie most in the balance sees Real Madrid play away to Celta Vigo, who beat them 2-1 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium a week ago.

Celta rested key players at the weekend and are clearly focusing on the Cup, while Real Madrid are without injured quartet, Marcelo, Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.

Zinedine Zidane will have to go on the attack as his side need two goals to have a chance of qualifying, but with players such as Iago Aspes and Cedric Bongonda, Celta are experts at playing on the break and Madrid's treble ambitions hang in the balance.

Barcelona are favorites to book the last semi-final spot as they defend last week's 1-0 win away to Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou, Sergio Busquets is missing for Barca, who will know that a goal from the Basque side would once again throw the tie in the balance.

However, with a trip to play Real Madrid in the Primera Liga on Sunday, it remains to be seen whether Real Sociedad, who on Monday loaned midfielder Ruben Pardo to Betis, play their strongest 11 or choose to rest key players. Endit