Preview: CF Talavera vs Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Real Madrid will be expecting to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey when they tackle CF Talavera in the competition on Wednesday night.

Los Blancos are naturally one of the favourites to claim the prize this season, and it would be one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history if they were eliminated in the round of 32 by their opponents, who play their league football in Spain's third tier.

Match preview

Talavera have impressed in the Copa del Rey this season, beating Rayo Majadahonda 4-1 in the first round of the tournament at the end of August before running out 2-1 winners over Malaga in the second round of the competition at the start of December.

Alejandro Sandroni's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 victory over Merida AD, with the result leaving them seventh in their domestic table, boasting 24 points from 16 games.

The home side, who were only founded in 2011, have never played higher than Spain's third tier, and they secured a return to that level from the fourth tier last term.

Talavera did actually manage to reach this round of the Copa del Rey back in 2017-18, so history would be created with a victory on Wednesday night, and it is shaping up to be one of the most important matches in the club's relatively short history.

Real Madrid will not be in the mood to hand out any favours in this match, with head coach Xabi Alonso needing positive results to hold off questions on his future.

Los Blancos did manage to record an incredibly important 2-1 victory over Alaves on Sunday, with the result moving the capital team back to within four points of leaders Barcelona in the La Liga table.

Alonso's side have only managed to win two of their last three of their last nine matches in all competitions, and the capital outfit have two more games before the winter break in Spain, tackling Talavera on Wednesday night and then Sevilla in the league on Saturday.

Real Madrid will view La Liga and the Champions League as their two main priorities this season, but the Copa del Rey is a tournament that the club have won on 20 occasions, making them the third-most successful team in the competition's history.

Los Blancos last won the Copa del Rey in 2022-23, and they reached the 2024-25 final, only to suffer a 3-2 defeat to bitter rivals Barcelona.

CF Talavera Copa del Rey form:

CF Talavera form (all competitions):

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Real Madrid form (all competitions):

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Team News

Talavera will be without the services of Valen Gomez on Wednesday, as the 21-year-old received a red card in the last round of the competition against Malaga.

As a result, there could be a spot in the final third of the field for Arturo Molina.

Montero Sergio scored twice against Malaga in the last round of the competition and will feature in a wide area, while there will be a spot in the final third of the field for Gonzalo Di Renzo, who is the team's leading goalscorer this season with four.

As for Real Madrid, Endrick, Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras are available again after missing out against Alaves on Sunday due to suspensions.

The away side will once again be missing a number of important players through injury, though, with David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy on the sidelines.

Head coach Alonso will shuffle his pack for this match, with Andriy Lunin, Dani Ceballos, Brahim Diaz, Gonzalo Garcia and Franco Mastantuono all in line for starts, while there could be a debut at the back for 18-year-old Joan Martinez.

Victor Valdepenas could also feature again following his impressive debut against Alaves.

CF Talavera possible starting lineup:

Gonzalez; Gallardo, Lopez, S Molina, Cuenca; Montero, Pitu, Capo, Arroyo; Di Renzo, A Molina

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Lunin; F Garcia, Asencio, Carreras, Valdepenas; Ceballos, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Mastantuono, Diaz; G Garcia

We say: FC Talavera 0-4 Real Madrid

Talavera can take encouragement from the fact that Real Madrid will rest a number of important players on Wednesday, but the team will still be full of quality, and we are expecting Alonso's side to comfortably book their spot in the next round.