A TOUGH AWAY ASSIGNMENT TO KEEP CUP DREAM ALIVE

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Jordan Thomas, Spanish Segunda

Last season Racing were promoted back into Segunda for the first time in over 15 years and currently sit 2nd at the halfway stage of the campaign. Is it fair to say there's a great sense of momentum at the club?

Ferrol have carried on in Segunda where they finished in Primera RFEF. They've been the surprise package of the season with many expecting them to be fighting down the bottom of the league, not for promotion. They've been very strong at A Malata this season as well.

Although they're currently chasing promotion, this is also the club's first time in the Round of 32 in 8 years. How much of a priority would a cup run be?

Generally teams in Segunda don't treat the Copa del Rey as much of a priority and when the changes were made to the format it impacted Segunda teams as they tended to end up drawing fellow Segunda sides early. Racing though might take it seriously because for them every match is a free hit their main aim was survival and they've wrapped that up halfway into the season, so it makes them a very dangerous opponent.

The goals have been shared around the Racing squad so far this season - Losada on 6, Pena 5, and three others on 4 - but who would you say is their primary attacking threat? And who are the key players to look out for?

Iker Losada is the main attacking threat for Racing. The ex Vigo winger has had an outstanding season so far and I expect sides in La Liga will be keeping tabs on him. This is also the first game for Racing without Carlos Vicente, a winger who's buyout clause was met by Alaves. The dual threat of him and Losada has caused lots of teams in Segunda problems so this will be the first time we see them have to adapt.

Will Racing fancy their chances or view themselves as major underdogs?

Racing Club de Ferrol will see themselves as underdogs but with an unbeaten home record and so much positive momentum from the first half of the season they will fancy their chances to spring a surprise given Sevilla's struggles this season. I think the first goal will be crucial in this clash.

The preview of...

Racing Club de Ferrol-Sevilla FC in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey, kicking off at the Estadio de A Malata at 16:30. 

Standings

Racing Club de Ferrol were founded in 1919 as Racing Club and Club Ferrol decided to merge. Although they've never been in the first division, they are the team with the most seasons (35) in the second tier of Spanish football without making it to the top flight. In the 1939/40 season, Racing finished as runners up in the second division, a year they were also beaten 6-2 in the cup final  by Sevilla in Montjuïc.

Previous Racing Club de Ferrol-Sevilla FC encounters

Although that cup final thrashing in 1940 was the first meeting between the two sides, the match was played at a neutral venue. The two teams didn't play an official match at A Malata until the 1968/69 season, the score 0-0 on that occasion. Meanwhile, in Joaquín Caparrós's final promotion season as manager in 2000/01, Michel II secured a late point agains the Galician outfit by cancelling out Pavlicic's opener. 

Racing Club de Ferrol's route to the Round of 32

Racing travelled to Andalucía for their first cup tie of this season, beating Marbella CF 3-1 in extra-time thanks to goals from Merino and an Álvaro Giménez brace. They faced a tough draw in the second round, going up against CD Leganés, current leaders of LaLiga Hypermotion and, therefore, the only team currently above them in the table. However, Cristóbal Parralo's team made the most of their home advantage, winning by a single Nacho Sánchez goal to nil. 

Squad

Quique Sánchez Flores takes charge of his first cup tie as our head coach and will take a 22-man squad to Galicia. Rakitic and Gudelj are both out, but Marcos Acuña and Joan Jordán return. For the hosts, the key absence is that of Carlos Vicente, who recently signed for Deportivo Alavés in the winter transfer window. 

Referee

Guillermo Cuadra Fernández will be the referee and there will be no VAR. This is the 14th time he has taken charge of a Sevilla match and the first in the Copa del Rey. We have won on nine of those occasions and lost four. This season, he oversaw our 4-3 loss at Alavés as well as the 5-1 demolition of Almería at home. He has never refereed a Racing match before.