Hercules vs Atletico Madrid Preview

 Atletico Madrid will not want to be the latest big-name side to come unstuck against Hercules.

Atletico and Real will do battle at the Bernabeu on Thursday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final, but before then the Rojiblancos face a testing trip to Hercules.

Hercules are currently 13th in the standings, eight points behind sixth-placed Atletico, but they have caused quite a few headaches for the top sides on their return to the Primera Division.

They are the only side to have beaten Barcelona so far, stunning the champions 2-0 at the Nou Camp, while they also defeated Sevilla, drew with Villarreal after leading twice and were beating Real Madrid at half-time before going down to two late Cristiano Ronaldo goals.

The Madrid derby has captured the imagination, but Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores today warned his side: "The priority is the match against Hercules.

"They are a very aggressive team at home, they are an uncomfortable side to play against and are strong up front with experienced players. We will have to be very cautious."

Sanchez Flores has included both Diego Forlan and new signing Elias in his 20-man travelling squad to Alicante even though neither is certain to play due to issues of fitness and eligibility, respectively.

Sanchez Flores said: "Forlan is not at 100%, but he's been called up.

"Elias has also been called up, but his transfer still hasn't gone through, although we could receive it sometime on Monday.

"As well as that, it's helpful for him to know the mechanics of the team, the travel, training, etc..."

Hercules have lost six of their last 10 league and cup matches, including a 3-0 loss at Real Mallorca last weekend, but they are on a three-match winning streak at home.

Coach Esteban Vigo said of tomorrow's game: "I hope that Atletico find the Hercules that we all know at the Rico Perez stadium, and not the one that played against Mallorca."

Vigo is without the injured Tiago Gomes and has omitted Royston Drenthe, who he says is absent not as punishment for refusing to return to training until over a week after his team-mates but for fitness reasons.