Spain’s biggest two sides are on course to meet in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Ray after the draw for the last sixteen and later rounds were announced. Barcelona and Read Madrid brushed aside opposition from Spain’s lower divisions in December to book their place in the last sixteen.

Reigning champions Real Madrid easily overcame Ponferridina by an aggregate score of seven goals to one whilst last year’s defeated finalists Barcelona showed no mercy to Hospitalet. Having chalked up a 1-0 away victory they followed up with a nine-goal mauling of their lower league rivals to cruise into the main draw. Madrid now face Malaga and Barcelona play Osasuna. In previous rounds both sides have been able to blood some of their younger players against weaker opposition but there can be little doubt that their star players would be recalled should they come face to face in the quarter-final.

Real Madrid beat Barcelona by a single goal in the Copa del Ray final of 2010/2011 thanks to an extra-time winner from Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid boss José Mourinho was quick to end speculation that he was intending to leave Spain for a second spell in the English Premier League where he enjoyed great success with Chelsea. In an interview with the BBC he had hinted that he would love to return to the Premier League but was keen to stress that he has not set a date on it and that he is very happy at Madrid. Mourinho’s side currently lead their arch rivals Barcelona by 3 points at the top of La Liga with a further four points back to Valencia in third.

There are several exciting clashes in the next round, notably the meeting of Valencia and Sevilla. Real Sociedad meet Real Mallorca and Espanyol play Segunda Division team Cordoba. Second-tier Alcorcon play Levante, while Racing Santander and Athletic Bilbao face third-tier opposition in the form of Mirandes and Albacete Balompie respectively. The fifth round ties are to be played over two legs, with the first leg matches played from 3rd to 5th January and the second leg matches a week later. The quarter-finals are scheduled for January 18th and 25th, with the semi-finals to be played on February 1st and February 8th.

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Copa del Rey fifth-round draw:

Mirandes v Racing Santander

Albacete Balompie v Athletic Bilbao

Alcorcon v Levante

Cordoba v Espanyol

Real Sociedad v Real Mallorca

Valencia v Sevilla

Barcelona v Osasuna

Real Madrid v Malaga