Copa del Rey | Round of 32

Jan 4, 2025 at 8.30pm UK

Estadio Municipal de Marbella

Marbella vs Atletico

Match preview

Marbella have never made it past the last-32 stage of the Copa del Rey, so there is some history on offer for the home side in this contest, and it will be fascinating to see how it unfolds at Dama de Noche.

The Little Whites currently play their league football in the third tier, having secured promotion last season, and sit 12th in the La Liga table with 23 points from their opening 18 games.

Marbella have beaten Bergantinos and Burgos in the Copa del Rey this season, and will go into this fixture on a four-match unbeaten run, including a 3-1 win over Recreativo Huelva before the winter break.

Ironically, their last defeat came at the hands of Atletico Madrid's second string in early December, but they will now face the capital giants in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey.

Marbella are coached by Fran Beltran, a former Real Madrid youth coach, and the 33-year-old will be looking for a big win against the La Liga leaders.

Atletico are on an incredible run of form, having won 12 in a row in all competitions, seven of them in the league, including a 2-1 win away to Barcelona last time out.

Simeone's side sit top of the standings, a point clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who face Valencia on Friday, and are very much in the title race at this stage.

The capital club had to win two games to reach this stage of the Copa del Rey, beating Vic and Cacereno on the road, and they will be on the road again on Saturday night.

Atletico's main focus this season is on La Liga and the Champions League, but they have won the Copa del Rey on 10 occasions, with their last success in the competition coming in 2012-13.

Simeone's side reached the semi-finals of the 2023-24 Copa del Rey, where they were unbelievably beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Athletic Bilbao, and it would be surprising if they were not involved in the latter stages of this year's competition.

Recent Performance

Marbella Copa del Rey form:WW

Marbella form (all competitions):LLWDDW

Atletico Madrid Copa del Rey form:WW

Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):WWWWWW

Team News

Jose Callejon is the biggest name in the Marbella squad, with the 37-year-old having previously represented Real Madrid between 2011 and 2013, scoring 20 goals in 77 appearances for the capital giants.

The striker has been Marbella's top scorer this season, netting five times in 20 appearances, and will be the main threat to Simeone's side in the Copa del Rey.

Dorian Hanza has also been in fine form, scoring four times in 13 appearances, and he will be joined in the final third by Ernest Ohemeng.

Jose Gimenez is a doubt for Atletico due to a muscle problem, but otherwise the La Liga leaders are in excellent shape, with Thomas Lemar available after a series of injuries.

Simeone will make a number of changes on Saturday, with only Javi Galan likely to retain his place from the side that started against Barcelona before the winter break.

Alexander Sorloth and Angel Correa could start at the back, as they did in the last round of the Copa del Rey, while the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Robin Le Normand, Koke and Samuel Lino are also likely to feature.

Possible starting lineup

Marbella possible starting lineup:

Lejarraga; Acosta, Punal, Diori, Fornes; Olguin, Edwards, Pena; Callejon, Ohemeng, Hanza

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Musso; Azpilicueta, Witsel, Le Normand, Galan; Riquelme, De Paul, Koke, Lino; Sorloth, Correa