Image source, Reuters

A ridiculously massive banner with a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo's face on it covers almost the whole of one side of the Bernabeu as the Portuguese winger holds aloft his Ballon d'Or award. He is loving this.

An absolutely incredible atmosphere at the Bernabeu as the two teams stroll out on the pitch. The home fans are certainly doing their part, but can Real Madrid produce the comeback they want to see?

Anisu adebanji:, external The octopus that predicted German matches in 2010 world .He got all the prediction right.

This was the calm before the storm inside the ground earlier...

Image source, Atletico Madrid

...instead thousands of fans were gathered outside the ground to greet their heroes. Amazing scenes.

Image source, Getty Images

Carlo Ancelotti may want his Real Madrid players to pass more, but he may do well to urge his players to be more direct tonight. They had plenty of the ball in the first leg, but a lot of good that did them.

He may not be playing this evening, but it is hard to keep Lionel Messi out of the headlines at the moment.

Reports today claim Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has opened the door to a huge £480m, external move for him as rumours of his unrest at Barca continue.

Barca boss Luis Enrique says a Barcelona side without the Argentine is unthinkable but the player himself has sent out mixed messages.

He had dismissed reports linking him with a move from the Catalan giants but then conceded at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony that "nobody knows what the future holds".

He couldn't, could he?

Image source, Getty Images

So who should we look out for then?

Luis Enrique has named the six reserves in the squad, including a first call-up to the first team for midfielder Gerard Gumbau since his arrival from Girona in July 2014.

Diawandou Diagne of Senegal was included in the squad that beat Huesca 8-1 at the Camp Nou but didn't get off the bench, while tonight could also see the long-awaited first team debut of Alen Halilovic, the teenage sensation who became the youngest ever debutant for the Croatia national team against Portugal in June 2013.

Just over 20 minutes until kick-off at the Bernabeu, giving us enough time for a quick look at tonight's other Copa del Rey fixture - Elche v Barcelona.

There have been some strange things that have happened in the world of sport but should Elche progress to the last eight this evening, it would have to go down as one of the strangest.

Barcelona's array of stars lead 5-0 after the first leg and should cruise into the next round against a team second from bottom in La Liga.

Nothing is certain in football but this has to be as near to a certainty as you can get. Doesn't it?

Image source, Gareth Bale/Instagram

Gareth Bale, by the way, has been working hard off the pitch as he looks to learn more of the local lingo.

What's Spanish for 'pass the ball'?

Michael Louw:, external My Sunday league team's goalkeeper licks both posts and the crossbar before every game. We're unbeaten this season though!

Image source, Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo will not be the only Real Madrid player with extra incentive to inspire a comeback today.

Gareth Bale was Real's hero when they won the Copa del Rey last year, scoring the late winner against Barcelona, but that will probably feel like a lifetime ago for the Wales forward.

Bale was booed by Real fans after going for goal - and missing - instead of passing to Cristiano Ronaldo in last Saturday's 3-0 win against Espanyol.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti backed Bale, but said he will not settle for any sign of selfishness in tonight or any other game. "If there is any play which seems selfish we'll clearly fix it," he said. "We have fans who demand a lot. Bale is a fundamental player like Cristiano and for that the fans demand much more than of others."

Image source, Real Madrid

Impressive scenes on the streets of Madrid just a few minutes ago as the Real Madrid team coach carefully made its way to the Bernabeu. Got to be one of the best, and most atmospheric, derbies in world football?

Enlisting the spirit of a former footballer is one of the crazier things I have heard someone do in the hope of predicting, or influencing, the outcome of a game.

But whether it is wearing lucky pants to a cup final or sticking to a specific routine before every match, I'm sure we've all tried to do our bit to persuade the cosmic powers to help our team win.

With that in mind, what is the strangest superstition you have or have heard of in football? Let us know via #bbceurofooty, external

Image source, Getty Images

Now I've heard some pretty odd stories about people doing strange things to try and influence a result, most of them involving Uri Geller.

Famed for his cutlery-bending exploits, Geller has also claimed to have played his part in events in the football world. He once went on TV to persuade the nation to touch an image of David Beckham's foot to help it heal in time for the 2002 World Cup and also ran round Highbury a few years ago to "create psychic energy" and help Newcastle claim an unexpected win at Arsenal.

Well, Real Madrid have their own Uri Geller, with a Spanish journalist having claimed today to have used a Ouija board to summon the spirit of late Real legend Juanito,, external who told him the La Liga leaders will beat rivals Atletico 3-0 and progress.

Atletico may as well go home then...

Real Madrid make four changes for the visit of Atletico Madrid, one in goal as Keylor Navas replaces Iker Casillas and three in the back line as Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Dani Carvajal are all recalled.

Fernando Torres will face Real in an Atletico shirt at the Bernabeu for the first time since 2006. He is picked ahead of Mario Mandzukic, who has had a fever recently, with boss Diego Simeone making four other changes from the weekend defeat against Barcelona as neither Gabi or Arda Turan start.

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Juan Fran, Miranda, Godin, Siqueira, Mario Suarez, Tiago, Koke, Raul Garcia, Griezmann, Torres.

Real Madrid XI: Navas, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, Kroos, Isco, Rodriguez, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale.

Image source, Getty Images

How big a say could Fernando Torres have in tonight's game?

The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker is back at his boyhood club and bidding to reignite his career, but failed to make an impression in the first game on his return - last week's first-leg match against Real - as he was substituted after one hour.

History suggests he is unlikely to have much of an influence today as well. During his first spell at Atletico, he never scored, or finished on the winning side, at the Bernabeu.

Does he make the Atletico starting XI? Team news coming up right now...

Image source, Getty Images

Yep, it is safe to say it has been a pretty good week for old Ronnie, which has mostly been spent attending glittering ceremonies and polishing the latest trophies for his already sizeable collection.

Now, though, it is back to business.

Just under a year ago, an injured Cristiano Ronaldo had to watch from the sideline as his Real Madrid team-mates celebrated beating Barcelona to win the Copa del Rey, and he will no doubt be determined not to miss out again.

First things first, though, they will need to beat an Atletico side who have defeated Real three times already this season...

Hello! Welcome to a bit of midweek European football live text commentary action as three of the La Liga heavyweights look to seal their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

Barcelona have pretty much all but a foot in the last eight after beating Elche 5-0 in their first-leg match and, barring a ridiculous turn of events, should cement their passage when their game kicks off at 21:00 GMT but our immediate focus is on a tie that has all the makings of being a very tasty one indeed.

Real Madrid host fierce city rivals Atletico at 19:00 GMT, with the latter holding the advantage after winning the first leg 2-0 but holders Real are unlikely to go down without a fight...