Real, Barca clash likely in Copa

Posted Saturday, December 24, 2011 by ESPN

Barcelona and Real Madrid are on course to meet in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey after the draw for the last 16 and latter rounds was made on Friday.

Spain's two biggest clubs breezed through fourth-round encounters against lower league opposition this week using largely second-string line-ups, but will have to dust off their biggest stars should they meet in the last eight.

Friday's fifth-round draw pitted reigning champions Madrid against Malaga, while last year's beaten finalists Barca will play Osasuna.

Elsewhere, there is an eye-catching encounter between Valencia and Sevilla, Real Sociedad meet Real Mallorca and Espanyol face Segunda Division outfit Cordoba.

Second-tier Alcorcon take on Levante, while Racing Santander and Athletic Bilbao face third-tier opposition in the form of Mirandes and Albacete Balompie respectively.

The last-16 ties are played over two legs, with the first match on January 4 and the return on January 11.

The quarter-finals will be held on January 18 and 25, with the semis scheduled for February 1 and 8.

Copa del Rey fifth-round draw:

Mirandes v Racing Santander

Albacete Balompie v Athletic Bilbao

Alcorcon v Levante

Cordoba v Espanyol

Real Sociedad v Real Mallorca

Valencia v Sevilla

Barcelona v Osasuna

Real Madrid v Malaga