Real Madrid's chances of winning the Spanish League title are dwindling every week, but the team can still feel hopeful with the idea that Copa Del Rey is still up for grabs. The team will have to take a step forward in this tournament on Tuesday when it takes on Valencia.
This tournament has been just as a much of a struggle as the regular season has been. In the last round, the team lost the first leg to Celta Vigo before breaking out for a 4-0 win last week in the second match. After that showing, the team brought an uninspired performance against the worst team in the league in a 0-0 draw that has put them 18 points behind Barcelona in the standings. Cristiano Ronaldo was missing in that game but he will be back against Valencia. The superstar has five goals in 2013, including a hat trick in the 4-0 Copa Del Rey match and he should be primed for another big game. The main question surrounding this team is in goal. Iker Casillas has started the last two matches and has not allowed a goal. However, Antonio Adan's suspension is over and he is available should manager Jose Mourinho choose to use him.
Valencia is coming off a 2-1 Copa Del Rey win over Osasuna and a 2-0 win over Sevilla in league play. The team is currently in seventh place in the standings with just 30 points and has heavily relied on Roberto Soldado to score the goals; he has 11 tallies.
This match is the first of three straight meetings between the two sides. They play each other on Sunday in League play before facing off in the second leg of this tournament just three days later. The teams met back on the first week of the season and drew 1-1.
Prediction: Madrid should win at the Bernabeau. 2-0 win with a Ronaldo goal.
Start Time: 3 p.m. EST
TV: beIN 1 Sport
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