Fresh from the Spanish Super Cup heartbreak, where they suffered a 3-2 loss against Barcelona, Real Madrid will continue their chase for silverware when they face Albacete at Estadio Carlos Belmonte.
The Madrid outfit are favourites to qualify for the next round ahead of the Segunda Division side, but the news of Xabi Alonso's departure has overshadowed the build-up to this encounter.
In the wake of his departure, former player Alberto Arbeloa has been appointed as his replacement, and he will be looking to hit the ground running on Wednesday.
Despite their loss to Barcelona, the club are still in the running for three trophies, sitting second in the Spanish top division and seventh in the UEFA Champions League standings.
The Madrid- based outfit saw off CF Talavera 3-2 in the previous round, and they will be desperate to make up for their loss against Barcelona at the weekend, when they square up to the Segunda division outfit.
Having secured 20 titles already, the Los Blancos will be looking to win their 21st Copa Del Rey title.
While the title may not be at the forefront of their ambitions this term, the capital team would be eager to win all titles available to them in the current campaign.
Their last success in this competition came in the 2022-23 season, but they were the beaten finalists last season.
Real will be confident ahead of this fixture, having been unbeaten against Wednesday’s opponents in 14 previous meetings.
For Albacete, they will be hoping to reach their first quarter-finals in this competition for the first time since the 1994-95 season.
Currently playing in the Spanish second division, Alberto Gonzalez’s team will make waves with a victory over the star-studded Madrid team if they manage a victory on Wednesday.
How the bookies view it: Real are the overwhelming favourites
Real Madrid have been installed as the favourites and are priced at 2/9, while the hosts have odds of 9/1 to claim a victory on Wednesday.
Recent head-to-head: Real Madrid have dominated this fixture
Real Madrid have dominated this fixture, winning in their last six meetings, and Arbeloa’s team are expected to come out of this encounter with another win.
Player to watch: Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham is yet to replicate his form from the previous season, but he is an ever-present for Real Madrid with four goals to his name already in the current campaign.
Needing to boost his numbers and help his side through to the next round of the competition, the Englishman could be the catalyst that Real needs to get past the challenge of Albacete.
Probable line-ups
Ahead of this fixture, Albacete will be without a few players for Wednesday's fixture. Jon Garcia is out injured, and he will not be involved in this encounter.
Higino Marin is currently recovering from an ankle injury, and joining him on the sidelines is Antonio Puertas, who is also out injured.
For Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh) and Eder Militao (hamstring) are ruled out of this fixture.
Albacete: Marino, Jogo, Moreno, Vallejo, Gamez Lopez, Valverde, Melendez, Rodriguez, Lazo, Betancor, Agus Medina
Real Madrid: Lunin, Jimenez, Alaba, Asencio, F. Garcia, Guler, Ceballos, Bellingham, Mastantuono, G. Garcia, Rodrygo
Anything else that catches the eye?
Games involving both teams have seen goals from both sides, and another one could play out here.
For Albacete, three of their last five matches across all competitions saw the two sides score.
And for Real Madrid, their last four encounters across all competitions returned goals from both sides.
More so, four of their last five head-to-head confrontations have recorded goals from both teams; thus, both teams to score could be on the cards, and it is priced at 4/5.
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