A clash filled with history

Everything is set for RCD Espanyol and Valencia CF to fight it out to become the first team through to the 2014-15 Copa del Rey quarter-finals. The mission: to taste success once again. Following the thrilling 2-1 first leg, the Power8 Stadium will be the setting for an exciting second leg clash between two sides that have lifted 11 Copa del Rey titles between them.

Nine wins for Espanyol, four for Valencia and two draws were the outcomes of the 15 previous meetings between the sides in the competition’s history, with the teams now crossing paths for the sixth time in a knock-out stage, where the Catalan outfit has managed to overcome the Valencians on four such occasions.

12 April 2006 is a date that stands strong in the memory of Espanyol supporters, who since then have dreamed of experiencing a similar glory. On that day, Espanyol beat R. Zaragoza 4-1 in the Santiago Bernabéu to win their fourth and final Copa del Rey title. Today’s group of players, with the likes of Sergio García, Felipe Caicedo, Víctor Sánchez and Kiko Casilla, will be looking to replicate the actions of club legend’s like Raúl Tamudo, Luis García, Pablo Zabaleta and Iván de la Peña. Despite losing the first leg, Christian Stuani’s goal in Mestalla means the Catalans’ chances in the tie are still very much alive.

"It is a game that has all the ingredients to be a great one. We play at home, with our fans behind us and we are well in the tie to have a chance of continuing in the Copa. We are very hopeful of winning and going through. We hope it is a great game", said the Espanyol manager, Sergio González, in relation to the match.

It will not be made easy for them by Valencia, a team that has managed to lift the trophy on seven occasions and that, under Nuno Espírito Santo’s stewardship, has been putting in excellent performances this season. 16 April 2008 was the last time Valencia won this tournament, when they beat Getafe CF 3-1 in the Vicente Calderón. Since then, Los Che have failed to add another title to their impressive trophy collection. The legacy left behind by Juan Mata, David Villa, David Silva and Fernando Morientes, stars from that Valencia side, is now in the hands of Álvaro Negredo, Nicolás Otamendi and André Gomes.

For Nuno Espírito Santo, the game against Espanyol will be the most important match of the year: "We are playing our first final. We have a one-goal advantage so we cannot relax for a single moment. We take on Espanyol hopeful of getting through. We expect a tough game against a well-organised team that has an aggressive midfield. We have to go there and fight to win the game". A spectacle is guaranteed.