Cup revenge on agenda for Real Madrid, Barca
AFP
AFP, MADRID: Real Madrid hope to have Luka Modric and Marcelo back fit as they seek to exact revenge for their recent Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of Celta Vigo when they return to Balaidos on Sunday.
Celta weathered a second-leg storm at home after pulling off a surprise 2-1 first-leg win at the Santiago Bernabeu to progress to the last four 4-3 on aggregate just over a week ago.
However, the roles from the second leg of that tie look set to be reversed as a far stronger Real side travels north with Celta boss Eduardo Berizzo set to make a series of changes with his sides Cup semi-final, second leg away at Alaves on Wednesday in mind.
Modric and Marcelo have missed the last two games through injury, but both returned to training on Thursday and could feature.
The presence of Modric in midfield would be doubly important to Zinedine Zidanes men with Toni Kroos suspended.
Berizzo has heavily rotated his Celta side in their past two La Liga outings to prioritise the Cup.
And with the Galicians just 90 minutes away from a first Cup final since 2001 with the tie against Alaves delicately poised at 0-0, the Argentine expected to do so again with the likes of top scorer Iago Aspas dropping to the bench.
Cup revenge will also be on Athletic Bilbaos minds when they travel to face Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Barca dumped Athletic out of the Copa del Rey for the sixth time in nine years in January and need a similar outcome to prevent Real running away with the title.
The champions trail their eternal rivals by four points having also played a game more after a disappointing display in drawing 1-1 at Real Betis last weekend.
Barca bounced back to remain on course for a fourth straight Cup final by beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 in their semi-final, first leg at the Vicente Calderon in midweek.
And Luis Enriques men could be handed a double injury boost themselves as Andres Iniesta returned to training on Thursday and Sergio Busquets is nearing a comeback form ankle ligament damage.
Enrique has defended his decision to rotate his squad throughout a demanding January and February of league and Cup commitments with a return to Champions League action at Paris Saint-Germain on February 14 also on the horizon.Between injuries, suspensions and tiredness, there is no other way. I rotate or we dont challenge in all competitions, Enrique said this week.
