Real Madrid vs. Celta Vigo: 2017 Spanish Copa del Rey Leg 1 Live Stream, TV Info

James DudkoJan 16, 2017

Real Madrid meet Celta Vigo in the first leg of their 2017 Copa del Rey quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday in what's probably the marquee tie of the last eight.

Los Blancos will need to make the most of home advantage against a Celta side loaded with attacking quality and talented enough to win this competition. In particular, manager Eduardo Berizzo has an abundance of riches in the forward positions, including strikers Iago Aspas and John Guidetti.

However, Celta will need to be strong in every area against a Real team that recently established a Spanish record 40-match unbeaten run.

Preview

Both sides found goals easy to come by during the last-16 stage. Celta claimed a 6-2 aggregate win over Valencia, while Los Merengues saw off Sevilla 6-3 over two legs.

As is the norm, both managers also rotated personnel to great effect. Real chief Zinedine Zidane gave starts to squad players such as attacking midfielders James Rodriguez and Marco Asensio. The pair accounted for three goals during the tie with Sevilla.

As for Berizzo, he was able to rest Guidetti and Aspas during the second leg against Valencia. Instead, it was Fiorentina loanee Giuseppe Rossi who rose to the occasion, scoring Celta's first in a 2-1 win.

VALENCIA, SPAIN - JANUARY 03: John Guidetti of Celta Vigo during the Copa del Rey round of 16 first leg match between Valencia CF and Celta de Vigo at Estadi de Mestalla on January 3, 2017 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)

fotopress/Getty Images

Rossi has lost none of his composure in front of goal. He's a terrific option for the cup, if Berizzo opts to hold back Aspas and Guidetti.

Zidane can make similar choices regarding some of his star names up top. In particular, the former France international may choose to again leave out talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real's powerhouse No. 7 didn't feature against Sevilla, while centre-forward Karim Benzema began on the bench. But Zidane needed the France striker to net the priceless equaliser during stoppage time in the second leg to establish Real's new record-setting run.

Benzema came on as a substitute for Alvaro Morata, who struggled to lead the line in place of the former Lyon man, per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan:

Morata failed to cap several promising moves with the right finish in Sevilla, and he must do more to prove he can make the grade during his second spell with the club. Taking his chances against a Celta defence breached 32 times in 18 La Liga matches would be the perfect response from the Spain international.

Chances won't be in short supply as long as precocious 20-year-old Asensio is involved. His stunning solo goal in the second leg against Sevilla offered a tantalising glimpse of his awesome potential.

Asensio is a flair player capable of the kind of magic to take Los Blancos into the commanding first-leg lead Zidane will want to take to the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos in the return game on Jan. 25.

Without a healthy cushion, Real will struggle to overcome a side saving its best for the cup this season.