Real Madrid vs. Cornella: 3 Things Los Blancos Should Test in Copa Del Rey

Since losing 4-1 to Real Madrid at Espanyol's Cornella-El Prat stadium in October, UE Cornella have been unable to produce a win in the five league games which have followed.

And they hit rock bottom at the weekend when they were beaten 6-2 by Atletico Baleares, who moved out of the bottom four in Segunda B with the three points. The bottom four is somewhere Cornella may soon end up if they don't arrest their poor form.

Perhaps they've been sidetracked by their upcoming visit to the Bernabeu.

The travel to the Spanish capital on Tuesday night for the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie. Three goals down, though, they're unlikely to produce what would be a remarkable comeback.

That means Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have a cushion. Having been professional in the first leg, Los Blancos now have the chance to test out other players and ideas as they go in search of a 17th straight win.

Over the following slides, we take a look at what Ancelotti will be looking to get out of the game.

Jese Rodriguez

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Without doubt, the biggest talking point ahead of Madrid's match against Cornella is the long-awaited return of Jese Rodriguez.

Ancelotti confirmed in his pregame press conference, per Ruben Jimenez of Spanish publication Marca, that the Canary Island-born forward will play some part in the second half of the Copa clash.

Jese was injured against Schalke in a Champions League match eight months ago, and his return to fitness has been a long one. Given the performances he had been putting in at the start of the year, it was a blow for club and player.

Now, though, the light is in sight.

Getting through the match against Cornella is the first test for Jese and for Ancelotti, who needs to find a way to get the player back to his best and to fit him into his plans.

An All-Change Midfield

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Ancelotti also confirmed, per Clara Gomez of Marca (in Spanish), that Alvaro Medran will start in midfield on Tuesday night. He will be joined by Asier Illarramendi and the returning Sami Khedira.

None of the three have been regulars this season, so all of them will be looking to state their case.

Medran has never started for Real Madrid. He's come on as a substitute three times this season—in the first leg against Cornella and in the league against Levante and Rayo Vallecano—but this will serve as his first big chance to prove he could have a future at the Bernabeu.

The 20-year-old has only become a regular for Real Madrid Castilla during the current campaign; he scored 10 times in 29 appearances for the C team last season.

With Luka Modric's injury and Isco's suspension coming up for his red card against Malaga, Illarramendi and Khedira will be competing for a place alongside Toni Kroos in Saturday's La Liga game against Celta Vigo.

That it, unless Medran does enough to stake his case, although he is more attacking.

Bale as the Leader

Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kroos, per Gomez of Marca (in Spanish), will all have their feet up when Cornella arrive at the Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.

Portuguese defender Pepe and French forward Benzema are missing due to minor injuries; the other four are just being rested.

It could hand Gareth Bale the chance to step forward and be the main man. He scored a hat-trick last season against Real Valladolid when Ronaldo was absent, and he'll be keen to have a similar impact here.

The Welshman missed a string of games in the middle of Madrid's 16-match winning run, but he has returned to reclaim his place in the side.

He scored in his first match back against Rayo Vallecano and added another in the weekend win over Malaga.

Supported, in all probability, by James Rodriguez and Javier Hernandez, Bale, for once, will be the Madrid player with the most expectation on his shoulders.