Real count on Raul as Ronaldo misses King's Cup final

Raul will lead the Real Madrid line without Ronaldo's backing against Real Zaragoza in the King's Cup final on Wednesday.

While Raul has shaken off an ankle problem, leading scorer Ronaldo is still recovering from a thigh strain and will miss the encounter at the Montjuic Olympic stadium in Barcelona.

The Cup is the one title that has eluded Real since Florentino Perez took over as president four years ago. Indeed, they have not won the trophy since 1993, when they beat the same opponents.

"There is a special desire to win the Cup this time," David Beckham told a news conference on Monday.

Beckham was in the side that won the Spanish Supercup at the start of the season but this will be his first chance to win a major trophy since joining Real.

Real, however, while leading the Primera Liga and in the Champions League quarter-finals, have yet to beat lowly Zaragoza this season.

The teams drew 1-1 at the Bernabeu at the weekend in a league game billed as the Cup dress rehearsal but the encounter was overshadowed by the Madrid train bombings.

"The events that surrounded the game meant that it wasn't an enjoyable game," said Beckham. "But I 'm sure the Cup final will be very different."

Cesar take over in goal from first-choice keeper Iker Casillas in the other change in Real's starting line-up for Wednesday (kickoff 2000 GMT).

Cesar has played throughout the Cup competition and coach Carlos Queiroz is set to keep faith with his highly rated reserve.

Zaragoza, their relegation worries beginning to ease after moving up to 15th in the 20-team league, are quietly confident of springing a surprise.

"They haven't been able to beat us in either of the two league games we have played this season," says midfielder David Pirri. "We have to be optimistic about the final."

Traditionally Zaragoza have done well in the Cup, their last victory coming three years ago when they beat Celta Vigo 3-1 in Sevilla.

The team looks to have turned the corner since the appointment of Victor Munoz as coach in January and the mid-season recruitment of former Barcelona and Real Madrid striker Dani and former Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Maria Movilla

Centre-back Gabriel Milito has been outstanding and the Argentine international will have a point to prove against a club that decided against signing him at the start of the season because of worries over an old knee injury.