In a football matchup of the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid will host Valencia.

Los Blancos currently sits in third place with 37 points while the visiting team finds themselves in seventh with 30 points. The game will be the first of a triple-header between the two clubs, as they'll face off against one another in the La Liga before battling it out once again in the second leg next week.

Madrid continues to fall short of its goals after walking away with a disappointing tie against Osasuna in its last matchup. To top it off, Los Blancos didn't manage their first effort on a goal until the 90th minute of play.

While Madrid was without the services of several notable players, the general consensus was that they'd still be able to pull out a victory versus the poor Osasuna club.

Fortunately for the Madrid squad, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will make his return on Tuesday from a yellow card suspension. Marcelo Vieira could also appear on the field after returning from an injury. Fabio Coentrao is said to be ready to go as well.

Valencia continued its slow progression under new skipper Ernesto Valverde with a strong win against Seville. While the team didn't dominate, it did reveal a gritty and determined side of the club as they've seemed to minimize their tactical mistakes on the field.

Valencia's three matchups against Madrid will indeed be a true test for Valverde and his team, which will be without its injured captain David Albelda. Fernando Gago and Sergio Canales are expected to be back in action soon enough but most likely not by Tuesday's game.

For those who have a subscription to Sky Sports, simply log onto www.skysports.com/xtra to watch Real Madrid face off against Valencia. Coverage of the Copa del Rey game is set to begin at 9 p.m. CET on Tuesday, Jan. 15.

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International Soccer