Depor aim to avoid slip

King's Cup holders Deportivo Coruna will go into Tuesday's third round first leg clash away to Alicante confident that a change in format in the competition will help them avoid the fate of league champions Valencia.

The first two rounds of the Cup were played before the winter break on a one-off basis, with lower division teams given home advantage.

That system is virtually a guarantee of surprises and third division Alicante obliged in the last round by seeing off Valencia on penalties.

Their reward is a tilt at Deportivo but with the competition now reverting to its traditional two-legged formula an upset will be a far taller order this time round.

Depor midfielder Jose Emilio Amavisca is likely to miss the first leg because of an ankle injury suffered against Celta Vigo at the weekend but that is unlikely to worry coach Javier Irureta, whose side are pushing for success on three fronts.

Saturday's 3-0 victory at home to local rivals Celta Vigo took Irureta's side up to third in the Spanish league, seven points behind leaders Real Sociedad.

The Galicians are also through to the second group phase of the Champions League and they will be strong favourites to beat Alicante and reach the last eight of a competition they won last year with victory over Real Madrid in the final at the Bernabeu.

The other seven first leg games are taking place on Wednesday.

Real Madrid, once again likely to be Deportivo's main rivals in the competition, face a tricky tie against second division promotion hopefuls Terrassa, with the first leg away from the Bernabeu.

Real Betis are at home to Recreativo Huelva in the first leg of an Andalucian derby, while Real Mallorca host Valladolid in another all first division clash.