MADRID 2 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Copa del Rey, in addition to the postponed Valencia CF-Real Madrid of LaLiga EA Sports, begins this Friday the so-called and always tough ‘January slope’ for the main candidates for the league title, who could play without rest until well into February and with the addition that Real Madrid, Athletic Club and FC Barcelona will play for the title of the Spanish Super Cup, something that, on the other hand, lightens the load of the toned Atlético de Madrid.
The ‘k.o’ tournament, which can also offer ‘high tension’ crosses to a match, and the Super Cup have usually been the protagonists of the first month of each year for several years, but on this occasion, the new model of the European competitions is the one that adds new matches that are mainly key for Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, who will also have a direct league duel in a month of football frenzy.
The team coached by Carlo Ancelotti is the one that could play the greatest number of games between this Friday, January 3 and February 9, a period of time where it could have games every week depending on its progress in the Cup and what it does in the Saudi Arabia Super Cup.
Real Madrid plays this Friday at Mestalla its match postponed due to the tragic DANA and in which it could be the provisional leader ahead of Atlético de Madrid, but with one more clash. Three days later, they will play their cup round of 32 against the modest Deportiva Minera, and on Thursday, January 9, their Super Cup semi-final against RCD Mallorca.
If they beat the vermilion team they would play the final on Sunday the 12th to start another possible marathon as long as they have not been surprised by the Second RFEF team in the Cup. Thus, they would have the round of 16 and the visit of UD Las Palmas in the League in the third week and in the fourth and fifth he would face key matches in the Champions League at home against the Austrian RB Salzburg and, away against the French Brest, mixed with league visits to Real Valladolid and RCD Spanish.
In total, ten possible games that could increase at the beginning of February with a hypothetical fourth cup and the derby in LaLiga EA Sports against Atlético de Madrid, a highly demanding closing to a stretch of great hardness and wear and tear physically and mentally.
FC Barcelona also faces some key weeks, especially after its poor end to 2024 both in the League and institutionally due to the more than possible loss of an asset like Dani Olmo, whom it has not been able to register due to LaLiga’s financial regulations.
The Blaugrana team, third in the domestic championship, three points behind Atlético with one more match, will start this ‘January slope’ on Saturday, January 4, visiting Barbastro in the round of 32 and then play their semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup on the 8th against Athletic Club in search of the final of 12.
Given his moment, his ‘pressure’ is much greater when it comes to winning a title that could change his state of mind for the next round, which would be the possible round of 16 cup winners and the league visit to Getafe CF, before the end of the month with double clash in a Champions League where they have to close their presence in the ‘Top 8’ against the Portuguese Benfica at home and at home against the Italian Atalanta and receiving Valencia CF and Deportivo Alavés in LaLiga EA Sports. The possible fourth cup winners and the league visit to Sevilla FC would close their stretch.
THE ATHLETIC, MORE ‘RELAXED’, THE ATHLETIC, MARKED BY ‘THIS’ CUP
Atlético de Madrid could be the most ‘relaxed’ since they will not have to deal with the tension of fighting for a title like the Spanish Super Cup, so, in a positive way, they take the weight off their shoulders and focus their efforts in the Copa del Rey, which will begin against Marbella FC this Saturday, January 4, the first rival to extend its excellent moment.
The rojiblancos would then have a few days off before hosting CA Osasuna on Sunday the 12th in search of consolidating their leadership in LaLiga EA Sports and then, depending on their future cup winner, they could be playing continuously with the hypothetical round of 16 of the Cup and derby in Butarque with CD Leganés before two important weeks with their Champions League matches, where they will also play their chances of avoiding a playoff, against Bayer Leverkusen German in the Metropolitano and RB Salzburg at home, and with the visits of Villarreal CF and RCD Mallorca before closing well into February with the possible Cup quarterfinals and the Bernabéu derby.
The fourth in contention in the league race is Athletic Club, which will have to deal with the toughness of this month where the option of winning a title like the Spanish Super Cup will be at stake and will begin the defense of a Copa del Rey that always raises a lot expectation and excitement in the Biscayan club.
Ernesto Valverde’s men, five points from the lead in LaLiga EA Sports with one more game, start on Saturday, January 4 in Las Gaunas with their first cup tie against UD Logroñés and then head to Saudi Arabia to face Barça on the 8th in search of the final of 12. The possible eighth cup holders will begin their frenzy with a league visit to RC Celta, and the return to the Europa League where they will try to close the ‘Top 8’ against Turkish Besiktas at home and Czech Viktoria Plzen in San Mamés. The visit of CD Leganés, the trip to Benito Villamarín, the hypothetical fourth cup and the visit to San Mamés del Girona complete their calendar.
It will also be a demanding stretch for another team that participates in European competition such as Real Sociedad, which in addition to its participation in the Copa del Rey, will also have to finish its Europa League group where it still aspires to the ‘Top 8’, objective which they will try to achieve with victories against the Italian Lazio in Rome and against the Greek PAOK in the Reale Arena.