After suffering the first defeat in 40 games Real Madrid will look to go back to its winning ways with a victory at home against Celta de Vigo in a match for Spain’s Copa del Rey.
Real Madrid was leading 1-0 in its last league game against Sevilla when in the 85th minute Sergio Ramos scored with a header in his own goal to start a comeback by the “Sevillistas.” Only seven minutes later Stevan Jovetic scored the go-ahead goal with a magnificent long-distance shot that beat keeper Keylor Navas for the win.
Now Celta will try to keep Real Madrid in losing form when they visit the Santiago Bernabeu stadium for the first of two matches and a ticket to the semifinals of the tournament.
Celta defeated Murcia with a global score of 2-0 in the round of 32, then proceeded to defeat a struggling Valencia by scores of 1-4 in Mestalla and 2-1 at home in Balaidos to get the ticket to the quarterfinals, where the club was paired against the almighty Real Madrid.
Real Madrid has an easy round of 32 where it played Cultural Leonesa of the Segunda B division (third level of Spanish soccer) and won by an aggregate score of 13-2. The story in the round of 16 was completely different against an always-combative Sevilla, which is currently in second place in La Liga and in outstanding form.
After a comfortable 3-0 win at home, Real Madrid’s second leg at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium got complicated when the locals jumped to a 3-1 lead before the “Blancos” came back to tie the score at three and earned the ticket to the quarterfinals with a 6-3 aggregate score.
Although Real Madrid might be the favorite for oddsmakers and the sports media the truth is that this series might end being closer than expected as both teams must keep their guards up if they want to go through.
If Real Madrid fails to get a comfortable advantage at home they might end up suffering more than expected in the return leg at Balaidos where anything could happen, as proved by the series against Sevilla.
Celta de Vigo is a complicated squad and its form has improved as the season has progressed and is looking to equal or improve their previous Copa del Rey campaign where they reached the semifinals.
After playing against Sevilla three times in 11 days, Real Madrid welcomes the opportunity to face a different opponent to keep advancing toward the goal of winning this tournament for the first time since 2013.
In the other Copa del Rey games Barcelona will host Real Sociedad, Atletico de Madrid visits Eibar and Alcorcon travels to Alaves.
Lines for the game:
Real Madrid -550
Celta de Vigo +1000
Draw +415
Total:
Over 3.5 -120
Under 3.5 -110
Goal line:
Celta de Vigo +2 (-105)
Real Madrid: -2 (-125)
