Injuries to affect today’s Copa del Rey matches

There are three Copa del Rey last-16 ties in Spain on Wednesday, with six sides from La Liga all looking for a place in Friday’s quarter-final draw.

Valencia kick off against Celta Vigo at 20:00 (19:00 GMT), with Ruben Baraja’s young side aiming to build on their 4-1 win away to Cadiz last weekend.

Celta travel to Mestalla after a creditable draw away to Mallorca and coach Rafael Benitez is likely to give young winger Miguel Rodriguez a place in his starting 11 after his impressive performance in the last round away to Amorebieta.

There is a derby in the north of Spain as last season’s beaten finalists Osasuna host Real Sociedad.

Osasuna went into the game following their semi-final defeat away to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia and have had almost a week to prepare, while their rivals from nearby San Sebastian lost 2-1 away to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Real Sociedad are without Take Kubo, who is at the Asian Cup, and Hamari Traore, who is at the African Cup of Nations. Furthermore, Umar Sadiq, Carlos Fernandez, Andre Silve and Alvaro Odriozola are all injured.

Girona also have injuries for their game at home to Rayo Vallecano. The La Liga leaders are missing David Lopez and Eric Garcia, and looked more vulnerable in defence.

The two biggest games of the round are on Thursday as Real Madrid visit Atletico Madrid in a repeat of last Wednesday’s Supercup semi-final, while FC Barcelona will see their morale tested by a visit to third-tier Unionistas de Salamanca, who knocked Villarreal out of the tournament.