Atletico Madrid entertains FC Barcelona in the first game of the round as the last 16 teams in the Spanish "Copa del Rey" look to battle their way into the quarter-finals.

The tie is played over two legs, with the first game held in Atletico's Vicente Calderon Stadium on Tuesday night. It will be a perfect moment to see just how far Atletico have progressed in recent weeks.

Earlier this season, the side coached by Javier Aguirre suffered a 6-1 mauling in Barcelona's Camp Nou Stadium as they met in the Primera Liga.

The two sides had contrasting fortunes at the weekend, Barcelona fighting back from a goal down to beat Mallorca 3-1. That result leaves them 11 points clear at the top of the Primera Liga.

Atletico meanwhile lost 3-1 in Valenciato slip out of the top four into fifth place.

Both sides will make changes to the sides that played on Saturday night with Barcelona likely to bring Seydou Keita and Gerard Pique back into their team, while Bojan Krkic also has a chance of making Pep Guardiola's starting 11.

Atletico hopes to have both Maniche and Maxi Rodriguez in their side.

The remaining ties, which include matches such as Sevilla Deportivo la Corunaand Osasuna Athletic Club Bilbao, will be played on Wednesday and Thursday night.

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2009)