Real Madrid are out avenge one of the most embarrassing results in the club's long and illustrious history on Tuesday.

Real's array of stars will welcome minnows Alcorcon to the Bernabeu for the second leg of their Copa del Rey round of 32 tie.

Alcorcon, a club from the outskirts of Madrid who play in the third tier of Spanish football, created a huge upset and a media maelstrom for Real after thrashing their big-spending neighbours 4-0 in the first leg of their cup tie a fortnight ago.

In the wake of that defeat, which has been described as one of Real's biggest ever humiliations, there was speculation that coach Manuel Pellegrini would be sacked if results in the subsequent two matches against Getafe and AC Milan went against them.

However, having seen his side beat Getafe 2-0 with 10 men, dominate in a 1-1 Champions League draw with AC Milan, and then see off bitter rivals Atletico Madrid 3-2 on Saturday, Pellegrini seems to have weathered the storm and confidence appears to be high in the Real camp ahead of tomorrow's match.

Brazil star Kaka, who sat out the first match, said on his club's website: "For pride and for the history of Real Madrid, we have to win this tie.

"The derby victory has given us a lot of morale to be able to achieve this comeback. We all have to be united; players and public. The fans have to be the 12th man."

Striker Gonzalo Higuain, who also missed the opening game, added: "We are in a good moment. We are Real Madrid and we have to show it. The key is concentration. Maybe this is what we lacked in the first match.

"From the first minute we must be focused and give it everything. If we keep the attitude we've shown since the 2-0 win over Getafe then our chances will be a lot better."

Real are the only Primera Division big gun who look at serious risk of not making it through to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey this week.

Holders and reigning European and Spanish champions Barcelona hold a 2-0 lead going into their home leg against Cultural Leonesa, while Sevilla are 4-2 up against Atletico Ciudad, Valencia lead Alcoyano 1-0 and Atletico Madrid are 2-0 ahead of Marbella.

Villarreal, who were dumped out at this stage last season after being stunned 6-1 on aggregate by Segunda Division B side Polideportivo Ejido, have work to do after only drawing 1-1 at Puertollano.

However, Ernesto Valverde's side, despite last night's 3-2 league defeat at high-flying Sevilla, look to be over their poor start to the season and will be confident of progressing through.

There are some possible upsets, though.

Last season's runners-up Athletic Bilbao need to overturn a 2-0 deficit against second division Rayo Vallecano if they are to continue in the competition, while Almeria, Racing Santander and Tenerife are trailing lower league opposition Hercules, Salamanca and Celta Vigo, respectively, heading into their second legs.

All but five of the 16 ties are taking place on Tuesday, with four being played on Wednesday and just the one on Thursday.