Copa del Rey: Barcelona face Real Sociedad, Real Madrid v Celta Vigo
Friday 13 January 2017 12:46, UK
Copa del Rey holders Barcelona have been drawn against Real Sociedad in the quarter-finals while Real Madrid take on Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid face Eibar.
Second division Alcorcon - the only club from outside the top flight left in the tournament - will face Alaves in the other quarter-final.
Barca have won a record 28 Copa del Rey titles, their most recent being a 2-0 win over Sevilla in last year's final, but any hopes of an easy passage into the semi-finals this year were sunk as they were handed arguably the toughest task of the three La Liga big guns.
Sociedad occupy sixth place in the league after winning six of their last nine games, and are just two points behind Atletico in the final Champions League qualifying position.
Sociedad coach Eusebio Sacristan said on his club's website: "It's a great challenge, against a very strong opponent and the club with the most cup titles.
"It's a difficult tie, but we're hopeful of doing something big in this competition and getting through to the semi-finals."
The first leg will take place at the Anoeta - where Barca have not won in a decade - and Eusebio hopes his side can build an advantage for the second leg at the Nou Camp.
"They will support us throughout and we will try to make it a magic night," the former Barca midfielder added.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who are on a record-breaking 40-match unbeaten run, beat Sevilla 6-3 on aggregate to reach the last eight and they will be optimistic of progressing further against Celta.
However, Celta dumped Atletico out of last season's Copa del Rey at this stage and also beat Barca in La Liga earlier this season, so Zinedine Zidane's European champions can take nothing for granted.
Real director Emilio Butragueno, whose club host the first leg, said: "They are two games in which every little detail will be crucial. We have to have a good game at home and get a good result.
"The second game is the following week against an opponent who play good football. At their stadium they are especially dangerous. It's going to be two very nice games for the fans," he added on his club's website.
Atletico face Eibar, who have made a name for themselves in recent years after winning promotion to La Liga for the first time in 2014.
The other tie will see Alcorcon, the second division side who famously beat Real Madrid 4-0 in the Copa del Rey in 2009, face mid-table La Liga side Alaves.
The two-legged ties will be played in midweek over the next fortnight.
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