Real Madrid travels to Africa for Copa del Rey encounter 

There is a group of brainless, mumbling automatons stalking the football world on Halloween. But in a twist to the normal horror narrative, this particular group of zombies is completely benign. More likely to offer a gentle, slimy gumming than a fatal bite. 

Yep, Real Madrid is back in action in a Copa del Rey clash against Melilla, a Spanish city located in Morocco. Temporary boss, Santiago Solari, has called up a 19-man squad for the trip that includes Vinicius Junior and Sergio Ramos - but leaves Isco, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale on the sidelines. 

Wednesday sees the club's plans for a new manager in a holding pattern too. Antonio Conte is more out than in, but Mauricio Pochettino of Tottenham is growing more wings as a rumor with Madrid reportedly offering the Argentinean twice his salary, currently enjoyed with Spurs. 

Real Madrid's Copa del Rey match-up against Melilla is live on beIN SPORTS at 2:30PM ET / 11:30AM PT followed directly by Barcelona's trip to take on Cultural Leonesa.

Catch the best of the action of these humdingers and the rest of the day's Copa del Rey action on the XTRA at 7PM ET / 4PM PT. 

Tottenham to play West Ham in NFL-free zone 

A couple of big hitters in England - and Arsenal - are in EFL Cup action today. Tottenham are away at West Ham United, a ground that is mercifully free of NFL markings. Chelsea is hosting a Derby County side, that is currently being managed by Frank Lampard. Narrative alert. Arsenal takes on Blackpool.

Serie A has a catch-up game with Milan hosting visiting Genoa. A win for the San Siro side will push the club up into the Champions League places. 

MLS playoffs get underway as Boca wraps up for Copa Libertadores clash

MLS gets its serious face on tonight with the start of the playoffs. The whole shebang starts with two of four one-off, sudden death games starting with NYCFC taking on Philadelphia Union and FC Dallas hosting Portland Timbers. Wayne Rooney's DC United is in action on Thursday. 

The winners of those four games will then be drawn against the likes of Atlanta United in two-legged affairs depending on seeding, tea-leaf reading, the calling-up of spirits and...and...and...this is MLS, so nothing is ever simple, is it?

The second finalist of the Copa Liberadores will also be chosen on Tuesday night. The first is River Plate after a dramatic 2-1 win in Brazil against Gremio send the Argentineans through on away goals. River Plate were 2-0 down in the tie before a late flurry of goals nine minutes from time. 

Unless Palmeiras can turn around a 2-0 deficit in Brazil, Boca Juniors will be River Plate's partners in the final. That could get tasty. 

Alexis Sanchez to be palmed off to PSG?

TRANSFER TRACKER TIME! 
 

Manchester United might have found something to do with Alexis Sanchez, aside from painting the failing forward orange and using him as human pumpkin today. The EPL side is reportedly trying to coax PSG into taking the Chilean. Good luck with that.

Meanwhile, Edison Cavani - who appears to have been frozen out of the footballing bro-mance of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe - says that it is "nice" to be linked with a return to Napoli, ahead of PSG's meeting with the Serie A side next week in the Champions League. 

Sports Burst's live show is the place to be at 12PM ET / 9AM PT for a run through of the latest transfer rumors. Just go to our beIN SPORTS USA Facebook page, or simply watch back at your pleasure.