At nine-thirty every morning, José Perís heads for the grocery store owned by his uncle and grandmother in Valencia's 'El Cabanyal' Market, to lend a hand. His tasks involve restocking the produce, dealing with deliveries, placing orders, restocking again, and so on, through to lunchtime. In his day-job as a greengrocer, the left-back who plays for Olimpic Xàtiva - the team going up against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey - works hard every day to make a success of the family business.

In the marketplace, José is just like anyone else. At least, he was. This week, however, people call out to him from every quarter - someone gives him a wink or asks him for a ticket to the game. When the draw paired his team with Real Madrid, he had a few sleepless nights, "I was waking up at three in the morning until my girlfriend asked: 'What's going on, José?' ... and I said: 'I don't know whose shirt to ask for".

"I have friends coming out of the woodwork, even people from school calling me asking for tickets", he says, a little nervous as this is his first interview. "The club has given us two tickets per head and the rest have to be paid for".

José has invited his closest relatives. "My grandmother has never missed a single Olímpic home game", he says while sorting tomatoes, cucumbers and mushrooms. The defender will be in the starting eleven on the left flank.

"I know that Ronaldo can't play, but I would love to have a high speed showdown with Bale. To find out how far I can push myself. Even if it's not Bale who comes but Morata, Jesé, Isco, Di María....they're all out of this world".