MADRID, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The return legs of the quarterfinals of the Kings Cup knockout tournament in Spain promise to be emotion-packed right to the end with four ties still hanging in the balance.
Sevilla and Atletico Madrid kick off the return matches on Tuesday with Atletico travelling to the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium needing to score at least twice after suffering a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Sevilla.
Diego Simeone's side also slipped up at home to Girona on Saturday and will be without Diego Costa who has a groin injury. Kevin Gameiro is likely to partner with Antoine Griezmann in attack against a rival who beat Espanyol 3-0 away on Saturday to give Vincenzo Montella his first league triumph as Sevilla coach.
Wednesday sees an improving Alaves try and overturn a 2-1 deficit at home to Valencia. Last season's defeated finalists Alaves deserved better from the first leg and will go through with a 1-0 win.
Valencia meanwhile need to focus on Wednesday's game rather than Saturday's Liga Santander match at home to Real Madrid.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane saw his strongest available side return to form with a 7-1 thrashing of Deportivo la Coruna at the weekend, but is likely to give fringe players another chance as they entertain Leganes after a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg.
Real Madrid will be without injured defenders Sergio Ramos and Jesus Vallejo, but can't take their rivals for granted given that lower league sides Fuenlabrada and Numancia have both drawn Cup games in the Bernabeu this season.
Perhaps the most interesting game in on Thursday when Barcelona, fresh from a 5-0 thrashing of Betis, take on local rivals Espanyol in the Camp Nou.
Espanyol won a highly physical first leg 1-0, and it is clear their matches against Barca are the most important of the season for club and fans. Barca fans will be hoping the current form of Leo Messi and Luis Suarez will be enough to keep them on track for a fourth successive Cup triumph.
