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Real decimated by injuries looking to make up for the deficit

The home team is completely focused on this second-leg cup game. They are to face the visitors whose last performances were met with great criticism

RCD Espanyol

Celta are doing rather well this year but they were unanimously written off when it became clear they would face real in Cup quarterfinals. The only thing that was important for them at Bernabeu was staying alive but they ended up doing much more than that. Celta recorded an unexpected 2-1 win after which Berizzo put all of the team's focus on this second leg. He rested some of his starters over the weekend so that they are fully fit and ready today.

Celta won in Madrid but Eduardo Berizzo doesn't think his team is the favorite for the advancement into the next round:

- Let's be realistic, we are playing Madrid, a team that is a favorite in any game at any stadium, against any opponent. The second leg at Balaidos is not exception. Of course, we hope to get into the semis but the visitors will have a say in it as well. Their goal is probably to score as early as possible. Luckily for us, they need to try and score which will give us more chance to attack. I think we are capable of that and that we will get a few chances to score a goal. 

Goal keeper Ruben Blanco, who was on the goal in the first leg, is out with an injury but that is not really a problem since Alvarez is Celta's first choice this season anyway. Claudio Beauve has been on the injury list for a long time, Fabian Orellana is on it as well but he's not injured. The coach recently removed him from the team and instructed him to find a new club. 

Madrid were undefeated for 40 games and then recorded 2 defeats in just 4 days. First against Sevilla in the championship and then to Celta in the Cup. Their losing run ended this weekend in the championship with a win over the decimated Malaga but Madrid fans were less than impressed with their team's performance. 

Zidane addressed said criticism:

- Looking at just that without checking the situation on the table, you could think that we're bottom table. But that is something you always have to deal with here. I try not to think about it much. We need to make up for the deficit from the first game, we are without a few important players but I think anything can happen. Even if we won in Madrid, this would have been decided at Balaidos.

Zidane talked about the injury problems, mostly referring to Modric and Marcelo, who got injured this weekend. He won't be able to count on him for at least two more weeks. Dani Carvajal, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale and Pepe are all still out.