Faltering in the league, Real Sociedad visit Segunda B side Cordoba on Wednesday, now aiming for a repeat of last season's run to the final of the Copa del Rey.
After La Liga and Supercopa disappointment over the past week, La Real will expect to progress past their modest hosts at Estadio Nuevo Arcangel.
Match preview
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One-time Liga leaders Real Sociedad have suffered a series of disappointing results since the start of December and will now look to kick-start their campaign at the expense of third-tier Cordoba this week.
The pair meet in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey, with Imanol Alguacil's side having garnered a solitary win from their last 13 games in all competitions - a year-ending 1-0 triumph over Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao.
After a fifth league loss of the campaign last weekend, La Real find themselves eleven points behind leaders Atletico Madrid - having played three games more - and may be relieved to take a break from the grind of league action as the cup takes centre stage.
Their Supercopa encounter with Barcelona in midweek - also hosted at Nuevo Arcangel - went to penalties and ultimately ended in another defeat, with Barca's Marc-Andre ter Stegen proving the Catalan giants' hero - both in the shootout and in extra time.
For the fifth-placed Primera Division outfit, attention now turns to the Copa del Rey - a competition in which they will curiously contest last season's final against Athletic this coming April.
History should strike a note of caution for the overwhelming favourites on Wednesday evening though, as in November 2012, Cordoba knocked them out in the first round 4-2 on aggregate.
As underdogs, Cordoba can approach this apparently mismatched tie with some confidence after seeing off La Liga side Getafe in the last round by virtue of an unlikely 1-0 home win.
The top-flight team failed to come back from Willy Ledesma's sixth-minute strike - Cordoba's only shot on target of the game - as the Andalusian club secured a famous cup success and an enticing third round meeting with La Real.
Currently third in the table, just two points below Murcia in top spot, Cordoba are on a fine run of form at the moment. A record of four wins from five since the start of the year has seen the team coached by former Extramadura boss Juan Sabas stay well in contention for promotion back to the second tier.
They have not met Real Sociedad since March 2015, when Los Blanquiverdes last featured in La Liga - a campaign in which they were relegated by a margin of 15 points.
Cordoba's first season at the top level in over 40 years may have ended ignominiously - and things have got worse in the intervening period, as they were later demoted to Segunda B - but Wednesday night offers the opportunity for a proud club to step into the limelight once more.
Cordoba Copa del Rey form: WW
Cordoba form (all competitions): WWWWDW
Real Sociedad form (all competitions): LLWDLD
Team News
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Real Sociedad coach Alguacil is likely to be without star man David Silva, who is still struggling to shake off a muscle injury and is unlikely to be risked against Cordoba.
However, veteran full-back Nacho Monreal returned to full fitness last week and centre-back Aritz Elustondo is also now back in training, having been out of action since just before Christmas, when he played the last 15 minutes versus Atletico Madrid. Ex-Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi is in contention too, after 16 months out through injury, and could even start.
Alexander Isak may be replaced by Willian Jose up front, with Mikel Oyarzabal also possibly due a rest - young winger Ander Barrenetxea could deputise.
For Cordoba, coach Juan Saba has few injury concerns and is likely to set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the visit of La Real.
His selection policy favours rotation, so either former Sampdoria forward Federico Piovaccari or last round's matchwinner Willy Ledesma should occupy the striker role, with Samu Delgado and Thierry Mourinho supporting from out wide.
Veteran Miguel de las Cuevas, once of Atletico Madrid, will vie with Mario Ortiz for a start in midfield.
Cordoba possible starting lineup:
Becerra; Stiepovich, Djetei, Molina, Alvaro; Traore, del Moral; Samu, Oritz, Mourinho; Ledesma
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Zaldua, Le Normand, Sagnan, Monreal; Illarramendi, Merino, Zubimendi; Januzaj, Jose, Barrenetxea
We say: Cordoba 0-2 Real Sociedad
Two-time Copa winners Real Sociedad could feasibly achieve the unprecedented feat of picking up trophies three and four within the space of a few weeks this spring.
That incentive - plus the chance to take relief from their league struggles against lower division opposition - should see them past in-form Cordoba, who can then turn their focus towards chasing promotion instead.
Top betting tip
Jonathan O'Shea
