Alvaro Morata & James Rodriguez
Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez could both start for Real Madrid against Cultural Leonesa Reuters

Real Madrid face Segunda B outfit Cultural Leonesa on their return to the Copa del Rey after being thrown out of the competition last season for fielding an ineligible player.

Where to watch

Kick-off is set for 8pm BST. The game is not scheduled for live broadcast in the UK.

Overview

Cultural Leonesa are unbeaten in all competitions this season, winning 11 and drawing two of their 13 fixtures to date. The Leon-based outfit are on a six-game winning run at their home stadium, the 13,000-capacity Estadio Reino de Leon, across all competitions.

Alvaro Morata struck a late winner as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on 23 October. The capital club are playing the first leg of their round of 32 clash against Cultural Leonesa weeks before everyone else due to their involvement in the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in December.

Keylor Navas, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema have all been rested by Zinedine Zidane for the trip to Leon.

What managers say

Ruben de la Barrera: "What we want is to have two good games. It is a great pleasure to play a two-legged tie against Real Madrid and enjoy a game at the Bernabeu, a temple of football. [But] beyond enjoying it, you have to compete in the game, because without competing you cannot grow."

Zinedine Zidane: "I don't understand the jeering [of Cristiano Ronaldo by Real Madrid fans] but at the same time, I was also jeered and it can happen. The public demands a lot from the players and the Bernabeu is special. Cristiano knows that and is not concerned by it. Of course I prefer if he scores two of three goals per game. But I'm not worried because I know it will happen."

Form guide

  • Cultural Leonesa (all competitions): WWWWW
  • Last result: Cultural Leonesa 5-1 Mutilvera
  • Real Madrid (all competitions): WWWDD
  • Last result: Real Madrid 2-1 Athletic Bilbao

Betting odds (888sport)

  • Cultural Leonesa win: 16/1
  • Draw: 71/10
  • Real Madrid win: 2/13

Team news

Cultural Leonesa possible XI: Vallejo; Morgado, Gonzalez, Bastos, Diaz; Martinez, Ortis; Villa, Gallar, Colinas; Benja

Real Madrid possible XI: Casilla; Danilo, Varane, Nacho, Coentrao; Isco, Kovacic, Asensio; Vasquez, Morata, Rodriguez