By DAN KARELL

Just days after coming away with a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over rival Barcelona, Real Madrid head into the Catalan country as they begin their defense of the Copa Del Rey.

A strong Madrid side featuring Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez, Keylor Navas, and Javier Hernandez all start against third division club Cornella, who play just ten minutes away from the Nou Camp in Barcelona. Later in the day, Sevilla visit Barcelona suburb Sabadell in the Copa Del Rey as well.

A nearly-full schedule of Serie A is also in action on Wednesday, headlined by Genoa hosting defending champion Juventus. Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is in the starting lineup, and will make his 500th Serie A appearance when the game officially kicks off. Other games to watch this afternoon in Italy include Inter Milan vs. Sampdoria and AS Roma vs. Cesena.

In England, three League Cup games are on the schedule, with Manchester City hosting Newcastle and Tottenham taking on Brighton and Hove Albion. Stoke City also face Southampton.

The day’s soccer action wraps up in the evening with the start of the 2014 MLS playoff schedule, as FC Dallas take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference knockout round. Later, Santos Laguna travel to face Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez, and Tigres UANL in the Copa MX.

If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today’s schedule is after the jump):

3 p.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Cornella vs. Real Madrid

3:30 p.m. – ESPN Deportes/ESPN3 – Hamburg vs. Bayern Munich

3:45 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Manchester City vs. Newcastle

3:45 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Tottenham vs. Brighton and Hove

3:45 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Cagliari vs. AC Milan

3:45 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Genoa vs. Juventus

3:45 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Inter Milan vs. Sampdoria

5 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Sabadell vs. Sevilla

9 p.m. – MLS Live – FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

11 p.m. – ESPN Deportes – Tigres UANL vs. Santos Laguna