Skip to content

Barcelona and Real Madrid face third-tier clubs in Copa del Rey

Barcelona celebrate winning the Copa del Rey last season
Image: Barcelona celebrate winning the Copa del Rey last season

Barcelona and Real Madrid will start their Copa del Rey campaigns against third-tier clubs.

Holders Barcelona will travel to western Spain to play their first leg against Villanovense on October 28 to make room in the calendar to play at the Club World Cup.

Luis Enrique's side will begin their quest for the FIFA Club World Cup title against either Club America of Mexico or the Asian Champions League winners on December 17.

Real will face Cadiz while the rest of the teams will play their first legs during the first week of December. They faced each other last in La Liga in the 2005/06 campaign.

Cadiz almost achieved promotion to Segunda Division last season but ended up losing against Real Oviedo in the play-offs.

They eased past third-tier Cornella in the Copa del Rey at this stage last season, running out 9-1 aggregate winners. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were rested for the home leg at this stage of the tournament last term and head coach Rafael Benitez may opt to rotate his squad.

Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla were also paired with third-tier teams. All 20 La Liga clubs enter the tournament at this stage and the draw has produced four matchups between top tier clubs.

Also See:

Copa del Rey last-32 draw in full:

Cadiz v Real Madrid

Villanovense v Barcelona

Barakaldo v Valencia

Reus v Atletico Madrid

UD Logrones v Sevilla

Balompedica Linense v Athletic Bilbao

Huesca v Villarreal

Almeria v Celta

Leganes v Granada

Llagostera v Deportivo La Coruna

Mirandes v Malaga

Ponferradina v Eibar

Real Betis v Sporting Gijon

Levante v Espanyol

Las Palmas v Real Sociedad

Rayo Vallecano v Getafe