Celta Vigo go into their Last 16 stage first leg clash against Real Madrid in poor spirits, having lost at the weekend to Athletic Bilbao, but very determined to prove their worth against one of world’s strongest sides.

Los Blancos, on the other hand, aim to record their fifth victory on the bounce and make the return leg at their Santiago Bernabeu a mere formality.

Celta Vigo needed five years to return to where they belong after suffering relegation from La Liga in 2007, but the club officials have done well to improve their survival chances this season.

The likes of Javi Varas, Michael Krohn-Dehli, Chu-Young Park, Augusto Fernandez and Gustavo Cabral all improved the quality of the side, while the likes of Iago Aspas and Hugo Mallo quickly proved their worth in the elite division.

While succeeding in staying above the relegation zone, taking 15 points from as many matches, the Sky Blues should have picked up at least few more given the standard of their performances.

Even if La Liga survival remains a priority, we can expect Celta to give their best against Real Madrid, thus odds of 1.45 (9/20) offered at Sportingbet on Celta to score do look tempting.

Gustavo Cabral returns from suspension, leaving Samuel Llorca as the only unavailable player at the moment.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Alvarez – Mallo, Tunez, Cabral, Lago – Natxo Insa, Oubina – Fernandez, Bermejo, Krohn-Dehli – Aspas.

This season is not exactly going as planned for Real Madrid seeing that los Blancos already trail arch rivals Barcelona by 11 points in La Liga.

Being also five points behind other rivals Atletico Madrid, los Merengues need to at least try and achieve a second-place finish in the league, while fully focusing on their Champions League and Copa del Rey campaigns.

Real Madrid may be hot favourites to pip Celta to a place in the next round of Copa del Rey, but Jose Mourinho is aware his men need to take this game seriously if they are to avoid any surprises.

Despite the fact that the Portuguese manager is expected to rest some of his starters, Real Madrid are just 1.40 (2/5) with Paddy Power to triumph in Galicia.

Fabio Coentrao has resumed full training and he could start at Estadio de Balaidos, while Michael Essien, Angel Di Maria, Luka Modric and Kaka are also expected to start.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Casillas – Arbeloa, Ramos, Varane, Coentrao – Modric, Essien – Di Maria, Kaka, Ronaldo – Benzema.