Real Sociedad midfielder Markel Bergara has called on his team to focus ahead of their Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg against Villarreal on Thursday.

Sociedad enter the match on the back of four straight wins in all competitions, but Villarreal have been one of the surprise packages in La Liga this season.

"Villarreal are one of the best teams in La Liga and are playing very well. To get through we'll have to be better than we were on Sunday because right now our opponents are operating at a very high level," he told Mundo Deportivo.

"Even so, the players here are hopeful of going a long way in this competition after many years of disappointment and we want to put that right.

"We can take the next step towards that on Thursday and if we do qualify for the next round it will be well deserved because, I repeat, Villarreal are a very difficult team to beat."

Bergara has been with Sociedad since 2003.