Competition: Copa del Rey 2016-17
Date: Wednesday, 18th January, 20:15 GMT
Stadium: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid)


Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo preview
A place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals will be at stake when Real Madrid and Celta Vigo take on each other in the two-legged tie. Los Blancos aim to make amends for a 2-1 loss to Sevilla, but beating Os Celeste is easier said than done.

Real Madrid rolled over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey last 16, but the Spanish giants failed to beat Jorge Sampaoli’s men in Sunday’s league fixture. Los Blancos aim to start a new winning run and they will try to get their job done in the first leg of the Copa del Rey tie against Celta Vigo. The club’s priority is winning of the national championship, but I am positive that Zinedine Zidane’s troops will take Wednesday’s game very seriously. Barcelona are the reigning champions and, no doubt, the capital club want to regain the trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo found the net in the 2-1 loss to Sevilla and he will be the man to watch in the home team in Wednesday’s clash against Os Celeste. Real Madrid have been impressive at home of late and they are likely to emerge triumphant in the first leg.

The likes of James Rodriguez, Gareh Bale, Pepe and Isco are all likely to miss the match with injury, but coach Zinedine Zidane has no other fresh injury worries ahead of the visit of Celta Vigo.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Navas – Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo – Kroos, Casemiro, Modric – Ronaldo, Benzema, Asensio.

Celta Vigo, on the other hand, are on a five-match winning run in all competitions. The Galician outfit failed to impress in Sunday’s La Liga fixture against Deportivo Alaves, but Serbian midfielder Nemanja Radoja helped the team pick up all three points from the match. Radoja scored the winning goal in the dying minutes of the game, but it has to be noted that Alaves finished the match with ten men on the field. Eduardo Berizzo’s troops, though, face an uphill task in the Copa del Rey tie against Real Madrid and seeing that los Blancos are desperate to return to winning ways following the loss to Sevilla, I am positive that the visitors will return home empty-handed. Swedish attacker John Guidetti is widely expected to lead the line for the visitors against Real Madrid, but the opposition defenders are likely to prevent him from scoring.

As reports in Spain suggest, Fabio Orellana is unlikely to be risked against Real Madrid, while Tucu Hernandez misses the match with an ankle injury. The likes of Planas and Beauvue remain in the treatment room.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Blanco – Mallo, Cabral, Fontas, Roncaglia – Radoja, Diaz – Bongonda, Wass, Aspas – Guidetti.


Prediction:

Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo betting tip: 1/1