The Copa del Rey first-round draw has produced 56 ties across 112 clubs, with every match set for the lower-division side’s ground. The games will be played from Tuesday 27 October to Thursday 29 October, which leaves a full week for the matchups to breathe before the first balls are kicked.
Lower-division home advantage
That format gives the draw its edge. One leg, four regional groups and a home crowd for the smaller side are exactly the ingredients the competition wants at this stage, and they explain why the first round usually throws up more noise than polish.
RFEF told Relevo that the round contains "the dream of eliminating a rival several categories above" for the modest clubs. That is the attraction here, and it is also why a clean run for the bigger sides is never guaranteed in a one-off tie.
The standout pairings
The headline fixtures are easy to spot. Athletic Club face Vencedor Prat/San Rafael, Valencia travel to Tavernes and Villarreal go to Manacor. Those are the kind of ties that immediately pull attention, because the Primera División clubs arrive with the expectation to progress and the lower-league sides get their biggest night of the season.
Racing Santander are also in the mix, with Ribadesella drawn at home against them. Their cup trip comes while they sit 16th in La Liga with 7 points from 7 games, so the draw lands at a time when they could use a straightforward night to steady things a bit before league pressure builds again.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
