Madrid, then under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini, suffered a humiliating 4-0 first-leg loss against third-tier neighbours Alcorcon and could only manage a 1-0 victory in the return meeting at a full Bernabeu.

It is a very different Real Madrid with Mourinho at the helm, though, and the Portuguese takes his side to the Nueva Candomina for tomorrow's first leg full of confidence but warning they must guard against a slip-up.

"We are growing slowly but steadily," he told www.realmadrid.com after Saturday's 6-1 thrashing of Racing Santander got his side back on top of the Primera Division.

"Fans may feel euphoric, but we must remain calm. Great coaches and great players can't allow themselves to feel euphoria for so little.

"We want to achieve things that are much more important than this."

He added: "We have to start working on our game against Murcia as of now.

"(Mesut) Ozil, (Ricardo) Carvalho and Xabi Alonso will have a three-day holiday.

"The rest will be called up for the match. (Karim) Benzema will be a starter, and so will (Cristiano) Ronaldo.

"It is a very important game to me. If last year's situation repeats itself, I will cross those who play off my list."

Barcelona, who have won a record 25 Copa del Rey crowns - two more than Athletic Bilbao and eight more than Madrid, will also take on Segunda Division B opposition tomorrow night in the form of Ceuta.

Like Madrid, Pep Guardiola's side - who won 2-0 at Real Zaragoza on Saturday - are battling for La Liga and Champions League glory this season.

But Mali midfielder Seydou Keita has also set his sights on helping Barca to a 26th Copa crown.

He told www.fcbarcelona.cat after training yesterday: "It's a title and we are going out to win it.

"It's an important competition and we'll be happy to win.

"I don't know much about Ceuta, but I'm sure the boss will talk about them tomorrow.

"It's how we are that is the important, though.

"We have to prepare ourselves and go there to win. There are a lot of youngsters going to be in the squad and they have the quality to play. The B team is capable of bringing a lot to us."

The bulk of the ties take place on Wednesday, with last season's winners Sevilla beginning the defence of their crown against a Real Union side who will be looking to repeat their heroics of dumping out Madrid two years ago.

Europa League champions Atletico Madrid, who lost 2-0 to Sevilla in May's final, face Universidad de Las Palmas aiming for an immediate response after last night's disappointing 2-0 reverse at Villarreal in La Liga.

Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said: "We must not accumulate any more bad luck than we have had.

"We must move on and focus on the cup match on Wednesday."

Villarreal play Polideportivo Ejido for the second time in three seasons after suffering an embarrassing 6-1 aggregate defeat to them in 2008.

El Portugalete, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, host Getafe.

There are two all-Primera Division ties on Wednesday, with Real Mallorca tackling Sporting Gijon and Hercules playing Malaga.

Also on Wednesday, Valencia visit Logrones, Zaragoza play at Real Betis, Espanyol face a trip to Valladolid, Levante host Xerez and Racing visit Cordoba.

On Thursday, 2009 runners-up Athletic will travel to Alcorcon looking to avoid the problems Real Madrid had last year.

Thursday's other two ties are all-top-flight affairs with Osasuna taking on Deportivo La Coruna and Real Sociedad facing Almeria.