THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADRID, Spain — Real Madrid, Villarreal, Sevilla and Racing Santander will all exit the Copa del Rey midweek if they fail to win their fourth round return-leg matches.
Villarreal has the toughest task after a humiliating 5-0 defeat at third division Polideportivo Ejido.
Both Madrid and Sevilla also need to rally against third division clubs. Madrid faces a 3-2 deficit against Real Union and Sevilla trails 1-0 to Ponferradina, while Santander is 2-1 down to second-division Murcia.
Madrid will be without injured internationals Mahamadou Diarra and Arjen Robben, while striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is also missing for Tuesday’s match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain stepped in to fill the Dutchman’s role on Saturday when he scored four goals to rally 10-man Madrid to a 4-3 win over Malaga.
Madrid hasn’t won the Spanish Cup since 1993 and its defence this season has been poor — with only five teams in the Spanish league conceding more goals.
Villarreal, which trails only Barcelona in the league and is joint-top of its Champions League group, faces an uphill battle at El Madrigal stadium after the first-leg thrashing.
Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini is likely to rest many of his tired regulars, which could allow a second start for American striker Jozy Altidore.
Spanish leader Barcelona holds a 1-0 lead over third- ivision Benidorm, while defending champion Valencia beat Portugalete 4-1. Both play on Wednesday as well as Atletico Madrid, which has a 1-0 lead over Orihuela.
In Wednesday’s other fourth-round games, it’s Valladolid versus Hercules, Almeria versus Rayo Vallecano, Espanyol versus Celta Vigo, Real Betis versus Castellon, Deportivo La Coruna versus Elche, Sporting Gijon versus Numancia, Mallorca versus Malaga, and Athletic Bilbao versus Recreativo Huelva.
On Thursday, Getafe travels to Osasuna following a 0-0 first leg result.