MADRID, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Valencia will look for revenge for one of the most painful defeats in their recent history when they entertain FC Barcelona in the Mestalla Stadium in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey on Thursday night.
Fate has thrown the two teams together in the cup less than two weeks after Barca inflicted a 7-1 thrashing on Carlos Corberan's side in Montjuic in La Liga in a game where Barca led 3-0 before 15 minutes were on the clock.
That result left Valencia looking shattered as a side, but Corberan deserves credit for pulling them together, and they gave their survival hopes a boost on the weekend, with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.
Barca meanwhile looked flat as they scraped past Alaves 1-0, and coach Hansi Flick will probably be forced into some changes, with Gavi likely to be rested after he was taken off after a clash of heads in that game.
Former Valencia forward Ferran Torres could also start if Flick decides to rest either Raphinha or Lamine Yamal, and Inigo Martinez is available after suffering a muscle problem in the Spanish Supercup final against Real Madrid.
Expect a packed house and a hostile atmosphere in Mestalla, as the Valencia players look to show that the 7-1 result was just a very bad day that they have put behind them.
Also on Thursday, Real Sociedad and Osasuna renew their acquaintances just four days after Osasuna beat the team from San Sebastian 2-1 in La Liga with two goals from striker Ante Budimir.
The action switches from Pamplona to Real Sociedad's Reale Arena for the Copa del Rey, with Real Sociedad looking to recapture their form after a run that has seen them suffer three consecutive defeats in La Liga to limit their options of a top-six finish this season.
Osasuna knocked cup holder Athletic Club Bilbao out of the last round of the tournament with a 3-2 win in Athletic's San Mames Stadium, and they will be confident of doing the same in San Sebastian, with Sergio Herrera in excellent form in goal and Budimir one of the most effective strikers in Spain.
Atletico Madrid assured a place in the semifinals on Tuesday with a 5-0 win at home to a decaffeinated Getafe, while Real Madrid visits Leganes on Wednesday night. ■
