Barcelona's players celebrate a goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Malaga CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 21, 2017. Josep LAGO / AFP
Holders Barcelona will face Celta Vigo in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey as La Liga’s top five were kept apart in Tuesday’s draw.
Celta, coached by former Barca goalkeeper and assistant manager Juan Carlos Unzue, became the first side to take league points from Barca at the Camp Nou for a year on Saturday in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
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The Galicians also shocked Real Madrid on their way to the semi-finals last season, but Barca, who haven’t been eliminated by any side other than Real in the Cup since 2010, remain strong favourites to make the quarter-finals once more with the second leg to come at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid also have the security of the second leg at home against second division Numancia, who eliminated top-flight opposition in Malaga in the last 32.
Third tier Lleida Esportiu are rewarded for their remarkable comeback from 3-0 down on aggregate to beat Real Sociedad on away goals with a matchup against Atletico Madrid.
The other side from Spain’s regional third tier left in the draw, Formentera, face last season’s finalists Alaves.
Sevilla were handed an Andalusian derby at Cadiz, whilst high flying Valencia face a trip to the Canary Islands to take on Las Palmas.
Copa del Rey last 16 draw (1st legs January 2-4, 2nd legs January 9-11):
Formentera v Alaves
Atletico Madrid v Lleida Esportiu
Numancia v Real Madrid
Celta Vigo v Barcelona
Cadiz v Sevilla
Leganes v Villarreal
Las Palmas v Valencia
Espanyol v Levante
Source: G Sport
