Barcelona's Gerard Pique: No favorites for Copa del Rey tie against Real Madrid

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique feels that his side's upcoming clashes against Real Madrid in Copa del Rey will be close affairs.

The Catalan giants have progressed to the tournament's quarterfinals after a 6-1 aggregate victory against Osasuna following Thursday's 2-1 win at the Reyno de Navarra in the second leg of their round of 16 tie.

Such a result means that Barca will tackle Madrid twice in the coming fortnight, and while his side has won two of its three matches against Los Blancos this season and drawn the other, Pique believes that neither club has the upper hand.

"In a match between Barca and Madrid there are no favorites, it does not matter how they have been faring, we will go to the Santiago Bernabeu to try to win and get the best result possible," he is quoted by AS as saying.

"This is what the draw decided, we are going to have to prepare very well, as we always do, and try to reach the semifinals and win the tournament."

Quizzed on Thursday's victory against Osasuna, Pique said: "It is always very hard because they close down very well, they play hard and it is always hard to beat them."

"We had a tough time in the first half, but after the break we were superior and it is always good to come here and win."

Barca will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu on Jan. 18, with the return leg taking place exactly one week later.