Both unbeaten so far in 2024, Valencia and Celta Vigo convene at Mestalla on Wednesday evening, with a place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals at stake.
Rafa Benitez returns to the scene of several former glories, but his Celta side trail their hosts by 12 points in La Liga and have a far inferior cup record.
Match preview
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As eight-time Copa del Rey winners - most recently in 2019 - Valencia certainly have the pedigree to dream of another success in Spain's national knockout competition, while recent results suggest they can come out on top in this week's last-16 tie.
Either side of an extra-time victory over Cartagena in the cup, Los Che have beaten local rivals Villarreal and then Cadiz in their first two league fixtures of the new year, racking up four straight wins in all competitions.
The latter came at Nuevo Mirandilla on Monday evening, when Hugo Duro opened the scoring and Valencia netted twice during second-half stoppage time to put the gloss on a 4-1 win.
Now up to eighth in La Liga, only three points outside the European spots, Ruben Baraja's side are showing signs that the bitter feeling of last season's 16th-placed finish can be consigned to history in the months ahead.
Just before their upturn began, Valencia played out a goalless draw with Celta Vigo in late November, and they now reconvene with the same opponents for a cup clash at Mestalla, where they have been beaten just twice this term.
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While their hosts have strung together four wins from four, Celta came up just short in their bid to make it three straight successes on Saturday, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca.
After kicking off 2024 by beating Real Betis, Los Celestes enjoyed a 4-2 win over Amorebieta in the Copa del Rey - though it took a second-half fightback to knock out Segunda Division opposition.
Rafa Benitez now heads back to the club where his career first ignited, during three glorious years that brought two league titles and one UEFA Cup, to tackle a team managed by his former Valencia midfielder.
Celta Vigo have never taken the final step and lifted the Copa del Rey, finishing runners-up on three occasions, but given the cup record Benitez boasts, they may have hope of upsetting Spain's big guns and going all the way this year.
First, the Galician club - who sit 16th in La Liga - must aim to show the steel that has brought only one loss from eight games since their last trip to Mestalla, in order to post a rare away win and reach the Copa quarter-finals.
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While Valencia will be missing Selim Amallah and Mouctar Diakhaby - representing Morocco and Guinea respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations - they can again call up promising defender Yarek Gasiorowski, who has begun to make his mark on the first team.
The teenage centre-back has been released from Spain's Under-19 squad to face Italy in a friendly so could make an appearance on Wednesday - albeit fellow youngster Cristhian Mosquera is most likely to partner Gabriel Paulista at the back.
Andre Almeida is still sidelined by a back injury, but Ruben Baraja should have most of his squad available, allowing him to make a handful of changes ahead of Saturday's league game against Athletic Club.
Celta have Franco Cervi and Joseph Aidoo on the treatment table, while Carl Starfelt has only just returned to full training; Jonathan Bamba is in AFCON action for tournament hosts Ivory Coast.
Rafa Benitez is also set to rotate his resources between two La Liga fixtures, so Anastasios Douvikas - who scored twice in both of the last two rounds - could feature up front.
It remains to be seen whether in-form captain Iago Aspas will start, as he has not yet played a single minute in the Copa del Rey to this stage. The veteran striker has begun 2024 brightly, netting two of his entire tally of three league goals since the turn of the year.
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Domenech; Correia, Mosquera, Paulista, Vasquez; Perez, Guillamon, Guerra, Canos; Lopez, Mari
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Villar; Vazquez, Nunez, Jailson, Ristic; Perez, Tapia, Beltran, De La Torre; Larsen, Douvikas
We say: Valencia 1-0 Celta Vigo
As Celta Vigo tend to struggle on the road, Valencia can continue their revival by securing a spot in the Copa del Rey's last eight. The hosts possess more squad depth and young talent than their visitors, who are more concerned with events at the wrong end of La Liga.
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