Real Madrid will be hoping to avoid the embarrassment of last year`s Copa del Rey campaign when they make the short trip to Alcorcon.

Madrid - who won the last of their 17 cups in 1993 - were humiliatingly knocked out at the same fourth-round stage by another third-tier side, Real Union, last year despite Raul netting a hat-trick in a 4-3 home win in the second leg.

That was not enough to save Madrid, and the aggregate defeat undoubtedly contributed to the sacking of then coach Bernd Schuster.

Arch rivals Barcelona went on to win the cup as part of an unprecedented trophy treble - along with the Primera Division and Champions League - and the big-spending capital club will be determined to put on a much better show this time around.

Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is wary as he prepares to face a club who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Segunda Division last season.

"I remember the bad impression we gave last year against Real Union," he said.

"We can't fail our fans again. We have to go for it in every competition, and the cup motivates us."

Alcorcon coach Juan Antonio Anquela likened the match to a fairytale story for his side, telling Marca: "We`ve been fighting for this, to face a great team, and I think we`ve been drawn against the greatest.

"We know this is like a Cinderella story, when at midnight we will return to crude reality, but nobody is going to stop us dancing with the prince - because this is what we have earned on our own merit."

Madrid`s game is one of four ties taking place tomorrow, with their fellow big guns Sevilla and Atletico Madrid also in action.

Sevilla travel to Atletico Ciudad, while Atletico Madrid are at Marbella in what will be new manager Quique Sanchez Flores` first game in charge.

Sanchez Flores was presented today after replacing the sacked Abel Resino, and the former Valencia and Benfica coach takes over a side who have won just once in 11 Primera Division and Champions League games.

Record cup winners and current holders Barcelona, who thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in last season`s final to claim their 25th crown but first since 1998, are in action in one of the nine ties taking place on Wednesday - against third division Cultural Leonesa.

Barca warmed up for that match with a 6-1 mauling of Real Zaragoza last night.

But reserve goalkeeper Jose Pinto, who could replace first-choice Victor Valdes, is taking nothing for granted.

"In principle we are favourites, but everything is nice on paper - we need to show it on the pitch," he said.

Valencia, winners in 2008, are also in action on Wednesday - against Alcoyano.

Last year`s runners-up Athletic - second behind Barca in the all-time winners list after claiming 23 cup titles - take on high-flying second division outfit Rayo Vallecano.

The final three ties are on Thursday when struggling Villarreal will hope to build on their first Primera Division win of the season, over Malaga at the weekend, when they go to Puertollano.

The second legs of the ties are scheduled to take place in the week beginning November 9.