MADRID, 4 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Betis kicks off the defense of the Copa del Rey title this Thursday by visiting Ibiza Islas Pitiusas, from the Second RFEF, while Athletic Club and Osasuna will seek their place in the round of 16 in their duels against Eldense and Nastic de Tarragona of the Primera RFEF, on the day that closes the round of 32 of the competition.
The Can Misses 3 Annex will be the scene (4:00 p.m.) of the first cupbearer of the competition champion, Real Betis, who after being exempt from participating in the previous rounds due to their participation in the Spanish Super Cup, will begin their career against the Ibiza Islas Pitiusas, against whom he hopes to recover the good feelings shown before the break for the World Cup in Qatar.
Thus, the team led by Manuel Pellegrini comes to the clash on the island after closing the year by signing a goalless draw against Athletic Club on their return to domestic competition and extending their official matches to three without knowing victory.
In addition, the Verdiblanco team, sixth ranked in LaLiga Santander, is suffering from a scoring drought since in this losing streak they have only been able to find the net in the derby (1-1) against Sevilla, missing the goals from Borja Iglesias , whose last official target dates from October 30 at the Reale Arena.
Taking into account the demands of his next league outing, in Vallecas, the Chilean coach, who has the casualties of Sabaly, Camarasa and Juan Cruz, seems to be going for an eleven of the less common in the face of a busy calendar this month from January.
For its part, Ibiza Islas Pitiusas, already the only survivor of the Second RFEF after the elimination of CP Cacereño, already knows what it is to win against higher-class rivals, after beating Rayo Majadahonda in the first round (3-1). , and to beat Eibar in the second (1-0).
Fifteenth classified in their group in the fourth category of Spanish football, Manuel Calleja’s men did not reach this duel at their best after accumulating seven straight games without knowing the victory in the league.
THE ATHLETIC CLUB DOES NOT WANT TO BE SCAREED IN THE CUP
For its part, Athletic Club, winner of the KO tournament on 23 occasions, will have to face off against Eldense at the Nuevo Pepico Amat (21:00), in the third cup match for Ernesto Valverde’s men, after the hard-fought victory against the modest Sestao River (0-1) and the victory against Alzira (0-2) in its debut in the competition.
The ‘Leones’ will arrive in Alicante with the doubt of Iñaki Williams due to physical discomfort and the confirmed absence of Íñigo Martínez, with plantar fasciitis, although he will now be able to count on Ander Herrera, incorporated into the group normally and with options to start the match as headline.
The ‘Txingurri’ will use an eleven full of rotations, with their sights set on the next league match against Osasuna next Monday and with a view to having as little trouble as possible, although as a visitor it is when they are suffering the most.
Eldense is also one of the strong teams in the Primera RFEF, since it is the leader of its Primera RFEF group, where Bilbao Athletic is also located, which will have been able to give Valverde good information about what awaits him in a match for which the no-tickets sign has been hung.
The two teams have already met in the Copa del Rey, although it was 63 years ago and when the Alicante team was in the Second Division. Athletic beat them 5-2 on aggregate after clearly winning the first leg 3-0 and drawing 2-2 at San Mamés.
OSASUNA WANTS TO GAIN STRENGTH IN THE CUP
Finally, the cup day on Thursday is completed with the visit of CA Osasuna to the Nou Estadi de Tarragona (4:30 p.m.) to face Nàstic, another of the survivors of the First RFEF and which also has its rival’s subsidiary in its group, who clearly defeated him 3-0.
The ‘rojillo’ team wants to return to the path of victory after losing their last two LaLiga Santander games against FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad, although surely Jagoba Arrasate will also put the less usual players thinking about the tough visit to San Mamés from Weekend.
The Gipuzkoan coach has sideline Nacho Vidal out and has summoned youth squad player Diego Moreno, one of Tajonar’s pearls, indisputable in the subsidiary under the direction of Santi Castillejo.
For their part, Nàstic, ranked sixth in Group 2 of the First RFEF and which knocked out Málaga (2-1) in the previous round, will seek to take advantage of their local status, where they are showing themselves to be more solid this season.
–THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE IN THE ROUND OF 32 OF THE CUP.
Ibiza Pitiusas Islands – Betis. Villanueva Churches (C. Gallego) 16.00.
Gymnastics – Osasuna. Díaz de Mera Escuderos (C. Cast-Manchego) 4.00 p.m.
Eldense – Athletic Club. Alberola Rojas (C. Cast-manchego) 21.00.