Real Madrid-Baxi Manresa: gunning for a place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals
Chus Mateo's boys play the quarter-final tie this afternoon at the Gran Canaria Arena (6:30pm CET).
A new edition of the Copa del Rey gets underway for Real Madrid in Gran Canaria, where the Whites will be looking to defend the title they won last year in Málaga. Baxi Manresa will be Chus Mateo's side's first opponent in their quest to win the 30th trophy in their history (6:30pm CET).
Real Madrid go into the game as Liga leaders with 16 wins, the last eight of which have been consecutive. Our side will be looking to secure a place in Saturday's semi-finals against a team they have never faced in the current format of the Cup. In the only meeting between the two this season, Madrid won 86-61 at the Movistar Arena.
The opposition
Baxi Manresa have participated in the final phase of the competition nine times, winning the title in 1996. Diego Ocampo's team are sixth in the league, with 12 wins and 8 defeats. One of their main threats is Derrick Alston Jr. The power forward has the third-highest PIR in LaLiga (17.7) and is the second-highest scorer (16.7 points).
Real Madrid have never failed to reach the final stages of the Copa del Rey and are the competition's most successful team. 'Los Blancos' know what it's like to win the title in Las Palmas. They won there ten years ago in the final against Barcelona (71-77) to lift their 25th title. For his part, Santi Llull is the player in active service to have won it the most times and he will be looking for his eighth trophy to become the outright record holder, surpassing Felipe Reyes and Juan Carlos Navarro (7).