Real Madrid and CF Talavera de la Reina meet in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 on Wednesday.
The modest hosts face one of the continent’s traditional powerhouses in what will be a marquee night for the club.
Real Madrid travel into the tie as favourites and will be expected to assert their superiority over a Talavera side still in its relative infancy as a club.
Having only been established in 2011 following a merger, the Castellano-Manchegos will rely on home support and cup unpredictability to try and bridge the gulf in quality.
Xabi Alonso’s men arrive on the back of a tense 2-1 victory away to Alavés at the weekend. The result halted a worrying run and kept them within striking distance of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
That win ended a difficult spell in which Madrid had struggled for rhythm, with only two victories in their previous five fixtures across all competitions.
Real Madrid team news
Alonso is expected to rotate heavily for the trip to Talavera, using the fixture to rest key stars and manage a stretched squad. Madrid are still in the middle of a significant defensive injury crisis. Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Dani Carvajal (knee), Éder Militão (hamstring) and Ferland Mendy (muscle) are all sidelined and unavailable for selection. David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga are also nursing problems and, while not formally ruled out, are considered unlikely to be risked given the schedule ahead.
There is better news in other areas of the squad. Endrick, Fran García and Álvaro Carreras are all back in contention after missing the Alavés clash through suspension. Their return gives Alonso more flexibility to freshen things up. The Copa tie is expected to provide an opportunity for several fringe and younger players to impress. Highly rated 21-year-old academy right-back David Jiménez is tipped for a full senior debut, potentially lining up alongside squad options such as Dani Ceballos and Brahim Díaz in a rotated XI.
In attack, Madrid are likely to be without some of their biggest names by choice rather than necessity. Star forwards Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior are expected to be left out of the matchday squad altogether, with the coaching staff keen to protect them ahead of an important upcoming league encounter with Sevilla.
Real Madrid predicted lineup
Possible Real Madrid staring XI: Lunin; F Garcia, Asencio, Carreras, Valdepenas; Ceballos, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Mastantuono, Diaz; G Garcia.
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday, 17th December.
How to watch CF Talavera vs Real Madrid?
Fans from the United Kingdom can watch the game on Premier Sports 1. The broadcaster has the exclusive rights to the Copa del Rey and will stream the fixture as part of their coverage of the Round of 32.
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