MADRID, 4 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad visits Ponferradina this Sunday in search of the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, in a single-match round of 32 in which RC Celta, UD Las Palmas, CD Leganés and Real Valladolid They also play at home against Real Racing Club de Santander, Elche, Cartagena and Ourense CF, respectively.
The Donostiarras, who in LaLiga EA Sports said goodbye to the year with a draw and a defeat that displaced them from the European positions, will try to go through less trouble in El Toralín than those they had in the previous cup tie against Conquense, against whom they needed extra time and a saving goal from Brais Méndez (0-1) to seal their ticket to the round of 32.
Without the accomplished Martín Zubimendi, Urko, the Surinamese Sheraldo Becker or the Nigerian Umar Sadiq, who is leaving on loan to Valencia until the end of the season, and the Russian Arsen Zakharyan entering his first call-up of the season, the three-time cup champion (1909, 1987 and 2020) travels to Ponferrada to face a team that is third, six points behind the lead – and with one less than the subsidiary ‘txuri urdin’- in Group I of the First RFEF. In the Cup, those from El Bierzo got rid of Castellón in the penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, Celta, who beat the Basque team in their last game of 2024, will travel to Santander to try to continue their path in the Copa del Rey, where in the previous match they had no problems eliminating Salamanca (0-7). An exultant Iago Aspas will arrive at El Sardinero after having renewed his contract with the Galician club.
Now, Claudio Giráldez’s team, which will have the addition of Jailson but will do without Tadeo Allende, Tasos Douvikas, Joseph Aidoo and Luca de la Torre, will come up against a Racing team that has been displaced from the leadership of LaLiga Hypermotion due to its bad results in recent weeks. The Cantabrians, who left out Real Sporting de Gijón in the Cup (1-0), have only added one of the last 15 league points at stake.
At the Martínez Valero, Elche will host a UD Las Palmas team that barely beat Europa in the second round thanks to a double from the Scotsman Oliver McBurnie (1-2). The Canaries, who since the arrival of Diego Martínez have taken flight in LaLiga, hope to defeat a team from Elche that has gone seven games without losing in the Second Division, where it is fourth, and that defeated Yeclano (0-1) in its previous duel cupbearer
The bottom of the First Division, Real Valladolid, expects a smooth match against Ourense CF, penultimate in Group I of the First RFEF but who eliminated RC Deportivo in the Cup (1-0), after suffering to eliminate Real Ávila in extra time (2-4). In O Couto, Diego Cocca’s men hope to get back on track after saying goodbye to 2024 with a heavy defeat in Girona (3-0).
Finally, in Cartagonova, Leganés, fifteenth in LaLiga with three points clear of relegation, faces Cartagena, in penultimate place in LaLiga Hypermotion, nine points from safety. In the previous round, the ‘pepineros’ suffered to beat Estepona on penalties, while the Murcians managed to get rid of Andorra (0-1).
–PROGRAM FOR SUNDAY 1/16 OF THE KING’S CUP.
Elche – Las Palmas 12.00 hours.
Ourense CF – Real Valladolid 12.00 hours.
Cartagena – Leganés 3:30 p.m.
Ponferradina – Real Sociedad 3:30 p.m.
Racing Club – RC Celta 3:30 pm.