Valencia aim for famous comeback

Unbeaten sequence
Valencia CF are the Primera División's form team once you take FC Barcelona out of the equation. They are second only to the runaway leaders – albeit ten points behind – having put together a ten-match unbeaten run of eight wins and two draws.

Mestalla resurgence
The stewardship of coach Quique Sánchez Flores, who arrived from Getafe CF last summer, appears to suit the Mestalla club. Injuries to key players Vicente Rodríguez and Roberto Ayala have been surmountable setbacks; Santiago Cañizares is once again proving his worth behind a defence breached only 17 times in the league; while David Villa is hanging on to Samuel Eto'o's coat-tails with 13 goals in the top scorer's race.

Sergio penalty
So it was no surprise that it needed a controversial late penalty, converted by Deportivo's Sergio, to defeat Valencia last week. The visitors spent the final minutes of that match pushing desperately for an equaliser and will expect to continue in the same vein tonight.

Advantage Madrid
The game is one of three quarter-finals to conclude this evening, with the visit of Real Betis Balompié to Real Madrid CF taking second billing. Betis lost to a solitary Antonio Cassano strike in Seville seven days ago, and subsequently went down 2-0 at home to Valencia in the league at the weekend. Fancy Madrid then to progress as they target a first cup success since 1993.

Espanyol favourites
RCD Espanyol are possibly even clearer favourites to advance as they take a 2-0 advantage into their home tie against Cádiz CF. There is just one league point and one league placing between these sides, but goals in Andalusia from Walter Pandiani and Fredson Camara Pereira have secured a comfortable cushion for the Barcelona club.

Puyol rested
The fourth quarter-final takes place on Thursday when Espanyol's neighbours Barcelona carry an 18-game winning streak in all competitions into their first-leg meeting with Real Zaragoza. For the trip to La Romareda, Barça coach Frank Rijkaard will rest Carles Puyol, a significant moment for a player who has appeared in the champions' last 36 competitive outings and has missed only five minutes of league action this season. Zaragoza take heart from a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou earlier in the campaign.