MADRID, 20 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad, Sevilla, Osasuna, Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid will face the second round of the Copa del Rey this Wednesday, with the aim of staying alive in the tournament and not suffering the first cup scare, in a day in which they will live until 12 meetings.
After the break of more than a month due to the World Cup in Qatar, the Copa del Rey lives its second ‘batch’ of matches of the second round, in which 14 teams from LaLiga Santander participate, five of which will play their matches this Wednesday . In this round, the four qualified for the Spanish Super Cup -Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Real Betis and Valencia- continue to be exempt.
The first of those ‘First’ that will elucidate his future in the competition is a Rayo Vallecano who already ‘fallen in love’ last year reaching the semifinals. Andoni Iraola’s men beat Mollerusa (0-3) with authority and now they will face off against Atlético Saguntino, who was the executioner of Amorebieta (1-0).
The ‘franjirrojos’ finished the first third of the season in a more than remarkable way, with seven consecutive unbeaten games – scoring against Atlético, Sevilla and Real Madrid – to place eighth in the League. A dynamic that they were able to sustain in four friendlies in the last month with two defeats, a draw and a win, all against bigger rivals. The Valencians have not lost at home since April and are tenth in Group 3 of the Second RFEF.
It will also be played this Wednesday by a Real Sociedad that ended up full before the break, placing itself in third place in LaLiga Santander, as an alternative to FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. In his cup debut he got rid of the modest Cazalegas (1-4) and CD Coria of Segunda RFEF is already waiting for him, who achieved a surprise victory (2-0) against Fuenlabrada, in a higher category.
This second tie will be a good test for Sevilla, who completed a fateful first third that left him very ‘touched’. His last league victory was on October 15 against Mallorca (0-1) and the victory (0-2) in his Cup debut against Velarde was a balm after four games without winning. This made them go to the World Cup ‘rest’ in relegation places.
Thus, the duel against Juventud Torremolinos in the second round in the Cup will measure the long-awaited improvement of Jorge Sampaoli’s team that does seem to have worked in the three friendlies during the break -two wins (Benfica and Volendam) and a draw (Monaco)- . The people from Malaga, who “killed” Huesca on penalties, are in no better situation, installed in the red zone of Group 4 of the Second RFEF.
The Cup party will travel to La Rioja for Arnedo-Osasuna. The ‘rojillo’ team defeated Fuentes with solvency (1-4) in the first round to endorse their good work in the League during the first third of the competition. And it is that the Navarrese team is seventh in the domestic championship. The La Rioja team has only won two wins in its last ten games, which is why it reaches the cupbearer commitment somewhat crestfallen, although with the incentive of winning a ‘First’. In his debut he eliminated Atlético Baleares on penalties.
The last LaLiga Santander team that will face this second tie is a Valladolid that the ‘preseason’ during the break has not been very good. They have only won one of their five friendlies, after beating (0-2) Bardabás from Tercera RFEF. Now they will face Arenas, in play-off positions in Group 2 of the Second RFEF, and who left Lugo from LaLiga Smartbank on the road (1-0).
In addition, this Wednesday the Second Division duel between Andorra and Levante will be played, as well as Numancia-Sporting, Pontevedra-Tenerife, and Logroñés-Albacete, among historical Spanish football.
— MATCHES OF THE SECOND ELIMINATORY OF COPA DEL REY.
-Wednesday 21.
Atlético Saguntino – Rayo Vallecano 19.00.
CD Ibiza Islas Pitiusas – SD Eibar 19.00.
Levante UD – FC Andorra 19.00.
AD Mérida – Deportivo Alavés 19.00.
CD Numancia – Real Sporting de Gijón 19.00.
AD Ceuta FC – UD Ibiza 21.00.
Arenas Club – Real Valladolid 21.00.
CD Arnedo – CA Osasuna 21.00.
CD Coria – Real Sociedad 21.00.
Pontevedra CF – CD Tenerife 21.00.
Youth of Torremolinos CF – Sevilla FC 21.00.
UD Logroñés – Albacete Balompié 21.00.