La Liga's basement side Real Valladolid will be bidding to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey when they head to third-tier outfit Ourense CF on Sunday.
Real Valladolid entered the winter break in Spain off the back of a 3-0 loss to Girona in La Liga, while Ourense suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad B in their final match of 2024.
Match preview
Ourense are in the last-32 stage of the Copa del Rey for the first time in their history, and they are now aiming to secure what would be a spectacular spot in the last 16 of the famous tournament.
Ruben Dominguez's side have beaten Guijuelo and Deportivo La Coruna to book their spot in this stage of the competition, and the cup is a welcome distraction at the moment considering their struggles in the league.
Indeed, Ourense have only picked up 18 points from their 18 league matches this season, which has left them in 19th spot in Group 1 of the Primera Division RFEF, which is the third tier of Spanish football.
The Galician football club secured promotion from the Segunda Federacion last term, and this is the first time in their history that they are playing at this level of the Spanish system, while their spot in this round of the Copa del Rey is also a major achievement.
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Real Valladolid are currently at the bottom of the La Liga table, with a difficult campaign to date seeing them pick up only 12 points from their 18 matches, recording only three wins in the process.
Diego Cocca's side will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 defeat at Girona, but despite their struggles this term, they are only four points from safety in Spain's top flight, and there is a lot of football to be played.
The White and Violets have recorded two strong wins in the Copa del Rey this season, beating Astur 4-1 and Real Avila 4-2, and they will now be expecting to book their spot in the last-16 stage of this tournament.
Real Valladolid have not actually made it past this stage of the Copa del Rey since the 2020-21 season, falling in the third round in two of the last three years, but they did make the final back in 1988-89, losing to Real Madrid.
Pucela have lost four of their last five matches away from home in all competitions, but as mentioned, they have been victorious in their two Copa del Rey fixtures on the road this term.
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Team News
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Ourense do not have any major injury problems for this contest, and there is a strong chance that head coach Dominguez will name the same side that started in the previous round against Deportivo.
Ivan del Olmo has scored twice in 15 appearances during the current season, and the 20-year-old is set to continue in the XI, while there should also be spots in the starting side for Gonzalo di Renzo and Jose Manuel Raigal.
As for Real Valladolid, Marcos de Sousa and Mamadou Sylla are doubts due to injury problems, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape for the Copa del Rey fixture.
Head coach Cocca is expected to ring the changes for this match, with Andre Ferreira, Cesar de la Hoz, Victor Meseguer, Raul Chasco and Darwin Machis among those set to come into the XI.
Raul Moro's future is currently the subject of much speculation due to his strong form this season, and the Spaniard could be one of the players rested for the cup match on Sunday.
Ourense CF possible starting lineup:
Guillen; Prado, Carmona, Zalaya, Prada; Ramos, Fidalgo; Raigal, Noriega, Del Olmo; Di Renzo
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Ferreira; Rosa, Bah, Torres, Chasco; De la Hoz, Martin; Tuhami, Meseguer, Machis; Latasa
We say: Ourense CF 1-2 Real Valladolid
Despite Real Valladolid's struggles, it would be a huge shock if they did not progress to the next round; Ourense have the tools to harm the La Liga outfit, but we are expecting the visitors to secure their position in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
