MADRID, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The four teams who will contest the Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia next week play their first matches as the Copa del Rey knockout competition reaches its third round this weekend.
The unique system used in Spain means that cup holders Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Osasuna also face the lowest category teams left in the tournament, while the remaining ties see the lower category sides play at home.
That means Real Madrid travel to Aranda de Duero to play fourth-tier Arandina, who knocked Cadiz out of the last round on a rain-soaked pitch.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has already said that Kepa Arrizabalaga will return in goal and he can be expected to make several changes against a rival that plays in the level below Madrid's B-team.
Atletico Madrid plays Lugo from the RFEF I (third tier) and Diego Simeone will again make changes from the side that lost 4-3 in Girona on Wednesday, with Memphis Depay and Angel Correa likely to replace Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata in attack.
Barcelona will have to deal with the cold as they travel to the foothills of the Pyrenees to take on Barbastro, who is also from the RFEF I. The team from the north of the region of Aragon, defeated Almeria in the second round and showed they are not afraid of putting in some very physical challenges.
Barca sneaked past Las Palmas with an injury time penalty in LaLiga on Thursday, but once again failed to impress and they also lost defender Joao Cancelo with a knee injury.
Osasuna meanwhile travels to Castellon from the RFEF I in what could be a tough tie for last year's beaten finalists.
There are several other attractive ties over the weekend and fallen giant, Malaga, who is struggling to get out of the RFEF I, faces Real Sociedad, who is without Take Kubo, Umar Sadiq and Hamari Traore, who are on Asian Cup and African Nations Cup duties.
Alaves and Betis have the only all-La Liga tie, with Betis, losing three players to the African Cup of Nations and needing to improve their away form against a rival that has developed a bad habit of conceding late goals.
Second division promotion hopeful, Eibar has a Basque derby at home to high-flying Athletic Club, with the home side coached by former Athletic player and B-team coach Joseba Etxeberria.
Girona, who has been so impressive in LaLiga, will make changes to its starting 11, with players such as Cristhian Stauni getting a rare start, when they visit Elche, while Espanyol is at home to Getafe in what would also have been an all-top-flight tie last season.
Rayo Vallecano will have to deal with the expected freezing weather on their visit to second division Huesca and Celta also faces second division rivals when they travel to Amorebieta.
The game will be played in Amorebieta's Urritxe Stadium and will be a welcome return 'home' for a side that has to play their league games in Athletic Club Bilbao's Lezama training complex as Urritxe doesn't meet the standards for the second division, but is acceptable for the cup.
Sevilla is having a miserable season in LaLiga and is in danger of relegation after their 2-0 defeat at home to Athletic on Thursday. Quique Sanchez Flores saw Nemanja Gudelj added to their long injury list as they face Racing Ferrol, who is currently second in the second division and will certainly fancy their chances of an upset.
Other ties with second division sides at home to LaLiga rivals see Burgos at home to Mallorca and Cartajena entertaining Valencia, while third tier Unionistas of Salamanca is at home to a Villarreal side that could see Eric Bailey make his return eight years after joining Manchester United.
The last tie of the round is also fascinating as second division Tenerife takes on Las Palmas in a Canary Island derby with regional pride at stake as well as a place in the last-16. ■
