Alcoyano vs Real Madrid predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s Spanish Copa del Rey 3rd Round game. Read on for analysis and a score prediction as Los Blancos begin their cup campaign.
- DATE: Wednesday 20th January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: El Collao
- COMPETITION: Copa del Rey 3rd Round
Alcoyano vs Real Madrid Preview
Real Madrid kick-off their Copa del Rey campaign for this season on Wednesday night visiting Segunda B side CD Alcoyano at the Estadio El Collao. Los Blancos were sent home early by Athletic Club in the semi final of the Supercopa de España last week and this fixture presents an opportunity to get things back on track. It’s a massive game for Alcoyano, featuring in the round of 32 for only the third time and the first since 2014.
Alcoyano and Real Madrid met in the same stage back in 2012 where José Mourinho’s men completed a 7-1 aggregate win. The first leg at El Collao ended 4-1 in favour of Los Blancos helped by a brace from Benzema and a goal each from Kaká and José Rodríguez. Alcoyano did well at the Bernabéu in the return leg and held the hosts at 0-0 until the 70th minute after which Di María broke the deadlock and Callejón added two late goals.
Alcoyano versus Real Madrid used to be a regular fixture in the top flight back in the late 1940’s. But the decline of the club from Alcoi to the lower reaches of the Spanish football pyramid has limited their meetings to cup encounters. At the moment, Alcoyano are sitting third in their Segunda B group with 16 points from 10 matches. In the Copa del Rey, Vicente Parras’ team have eliminated Laredo and then Huesca at El Collao to set up this monumental tie against the Spanish champions.
The victory over Huesca was particularly emphatic. Mourad El Ghezouani’s stunning strike in the first half and a late goal from Jorge Moltó sealed passage to the next round. At the weekend, Alcoyano were held 0-0 at Hércules in the league which brought their five match winning run to an end.
Having failed to defend their Supercopa crown and currently sitting potentially 10 points behind LaLiga leaders Atlético, the Copa del Rey currently seems like the most realistic chance for Real Madrid to win a trophy this season. It is also the only piece of silverware missing from Zinedine Zidane’s trophy cabinet as manager. He will though, have the luxury of making a handful of rotations in Alcoi. We could see the likes of Marcelo, Isco, Odriozola and Militão start. Castilla players Chust and Blanco could be given a chance and goalkeeper Andriy Lunin could make his all-important Real Madrid debut 943 days after signing for the club.
The past week was a torrid one for Zidane’s side, both on and off the pitch. They were stranded at Madrid airport for three hours before their game against Osasuna due to the snowstorm and played out a goalless stalemate in sub-zero conditions at El Sadar. Zidane was visibly unhappy at the post-match conference, stating the match should have been called off. The team was once again stuck in Pamplona after the game and couldn’t return to Madrid. So, Real Madrid had to travel directly to Málaga for the Supercopa only to go down to eventual winners Athletic in the semis.
Two more trips await Los Blancos before their return to the Alfredo Di Stéfano, the first of which comes on Wednesday in the Valencian Community before facing a tough test at Vitoria against Alavés at the weekend.
Alcoyano vs Real Madrid Predictions
Score Prediction: Alcoyano 0-3 Real Madrid
These are the kind of matches where fans are missed the most. We saw last year how third-tier Unionistas were in the game until the very end in their match against Real Madrid, hugely thanks to the raucous crowd behind them. It’s unfortunate for Alcoyano to be playing against the Spanish champions in front of almost 5,000 empty seats. The home side have nothing to lose but Real Madrid should progress by a comfortable margin. Whatever the result, a memorable night awaits the Alcoyano players.
Copa del Rey Betting Tips (18+)
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Read our latest Copa del Rey match previews.
