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Preview: Real Madrid vs. Celta Vigo

Sports Mole previews the second leg of the fifth-round Copa del Rey clash between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo.

Real Madrid will attempt to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey when they welcome Celta Vigo to the Spanish capital on Wednesday.

Celta picked up a 2-1 victory in the first leg on December 12, but Jose Mourinho's side are still considered the favourites to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Madrid's disappointing opening half to the La Liga season has left them in third spot in the table, while they have won just two of their last five matches in all competitions.

Celta are on a similar run of form, but did pick up a morale-boosting victory over Real Valladolid at the weekend in order to move them away from the relegation zone in Spain's top division.

Recent history does slightly favour the home side with Madrid winning three of the last five meetings between the two teams, however, all but one of those matches were won by the odd goal.

Madrid are expected to name their strongest available team, although Luka Modric and fit-again Gonzalo Higuain are both pushing for recalls. Celta, meanwhile, have no fresh injury concerns and will once more look to star man Iago Aspas to lead their line.

Recent form:

Real Madrid: WLDLW
Celta Vigo: LWLLW

Possible lineups:

Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Carvalho, Varane, Essien; Modric, Khedira, Alonso; Benzema, Ronaldo, Higuain

Celta Vigo: Sergio; Mallo, Arceo, Cabral, Lago; Oubina, Krohn-Dehli, Fernandez, Bermejo; Aspas, Park

Sports Mole says: 3-0

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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal against Real Sociedad on January 6, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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