Big guns set to return for Real Madrid

Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque is likely to field his strongest team against Gimnastic Tarragona on Tuesday as the King's Cup favourites look to overturn a shock 1-0 defeat in the first leg last week.

Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and Fernando Morientes were left out last week as second division strugglers Tarragona pulled off an amazing upset in the fourth round first leg game thanks to an own goal from Aitor Karanka.

The King's Cup is a priority for Real this season, with the final due to be played at their own Bernabeu stadium on March 6, 2002, the 100th anniversary of the club's foundation.

Failure to be present for that final would represent a blow to the club's centenary celebrations and while Del Bosque is saying nothing about his selection plans for Tuesday's game he is almost certain to put out the strongest possible line-up.

"It's going to be a real struggle in the second leg," said French midfielder Claude Makelele.

"We're used to that, though. We don't expect gifts from any side."

Real go into the match as league leaders, following a 3-1 victory at home to Real Sociedad on Saturday.

"We've got two games before the end of the year, one in the Cup and one in the league, and it's important to win both of them," Makelele said.

"The Cup is important to us. We think we can win all three titles (including the Champions League) this season."

Real Mallorca will also have plenty of work to do to make it through to the quarter-finals when they host Cordoba on Wednesday after losing the away leg 2-1 last week.

Valladolid should have little trouble against Badajoz after a 3-1 win in the first leg, while Villarreal are in similarly good shape after their 4-2 victory at Sporting Gijon.

Athletic Bilbao will be confident of making progress following a 2-2 draw away to Salamanca, with Rayo Vallecano also well placed after the away leg of their tie against third division Ciudad de Murcia finished goalless.

At least one third division side will make it through to the quarter-finals, with Figueres leading Novelda 2-1 after the first leg in Catalunya.

Deportivo Coruna are already through to the quarter-finals after third division Hospitalet rejected a Spanish Football Federation ruling that the first leg should be switched from an artificial surface to grass.

Hospitalet did not turn up for the rearranged game at Barcelona's Mini Estadi and were adjudged to have forfeited the tie.