Copa del Rey First Round Sees Big Clubs Away to Underdogs

• 16 La Liga teams debut in Copa del Rey against lower-tier foes.
• Notable clashes include Athletic Bilbao, Girona, and Celta Vigo’s challenges.
• Early rounds set the stage for potential upsets in the Copa del Rey.

In a thrilling start to this season’s Copa del Rey, 16 La Liga teams, excluding Real Madrid, Osasuna, FC Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, embarked on their journey to the final using the traditional format.

As per tradition, these top-flight teams faced off against lower-league opposition in the competition’s early rounds. Here’s a roundup of the action-packed opening fixtures over the course of three days.

Tuesday’s Encounters

On Tuesday, Las Palmas went up against RFEF III’s Manacor, a regional fifth-tier team, in a challenging away fixture. Meanwhile, struggling La Liga side Almeria, currently at the bottom of the table, took on Talavera de la Reina, a fourth-tier RFEF II team, who stood as the highest-ranked underdogs in the first round.

Wednesday’s Showcase

Wednesday featured 10 intriguing matches involving La Liga giants, with Spain observing a public holiday. Athletic Bilbao, coached by Ernesto Valverde, made headlines as they visited sixth-tier Rubi, a town near Barcelona. Valverde opted for wholesale rotations against Rubi, a team primarily consisting of part-time players, and whose captain, Aitor Torres, is a lifelong Athletic supporter. Temporary stands accommodated around 3,500 enthusiastic fans in Rubi’s tiny stadium, equipped with an artificial pitch that posed challenges for the visitors.

Girona, currently second in La Liga, traveled to the far southwest to face off against San Roque de Lepe. Celta Vigo, in need of respite from their league struggles, journeyed to lowly Turegano for their Copa del Rey fixture. Real Betis squared off against Hernan Cortes, a historically named team hailing from a village with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants in the Extremadura region. Cadiz searched for their first victory since September 1 in an away game against Badalona Futur on the outskirts of Barcelona.

The Copa del Rey’s early rounds have set the stage for David vs. Goliath battles, pitting the might of La Liga against the resilience of lower-tier teams. The tournament promises to be a thrilling journey, with underdogs hoping to write their own Cinderella stories, while top-tier clubs look to maintain their dominance. The quest for the coveted Copa del Rey continues, and fans can expect more surprises and enthralling encounters as the competition unfolds.

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