MADRID, 1 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia CF, Villarreal CF, Granada CF and Deportivo Alavés begin their adventure in the Copa del Rey this Thursday, a competition in which they will want to avoid surprises against UD Logroñés, Chiclana CF, Arosa SC and Deportivo Murcia, respectively, in a last day of the first round of the KO tournament in which a total of eight matches will take place.
The last four LaLiga EA Sports teams from the first round of the Cup enter the fray, with the usual rotations in their elevens, this Thursday with the intention that their path in the competition is not cut short at the first opportunity. Valencia, holder of eight trophies in the KO tournament – the last in 2019 – will visit (20.00) an undefeated UD Logroñés in Group 2 of the Second RFEF, chaining three domestic wins.
With only two defeats in their fiefdom in the last ten games, the Rioja team will finally try to beat the Valencians, against whom they lost in the three previous matches in the cup tournament, the last in 2020. Those of Rubén Baraja, who have having reached at least the quarterfinals in the last two editions, they will seek to continue the good dynamics in their game in recent weeks, somewhat clouded by the last draw (2-2) ‘in extremis’ in San Mamés.
However, their record away from Mestalla is very poor this season, since they can only count on the victory on the first day of the League against Sevilla (1-2). Since then, five games without winning as a visitor (2D and 3E), worsening a wound that could be more painful and fatal if the fiasco away from home repeats itself in the KO tournament.
Supported by almost 6,000 people at the Municipal of Chiclana, the Andalusian Honor Division team also receives Villarreal this Thursday (7:00 p.m.) with overflowing enthusiasm. After getting rid of Mijas Las Lagunas confirmed their presence in this first round, ready to make a splash. Their balance in the League supports their options, unbeatable and fighting for the lead, just one point from the head.
The obstacle to Chiclana’s dream will be an irregular Villarreal that, however, arrives after sweating a domestic victory against Granada (2-3) that it had not achieved since mid-September. In a tournament in which they have not traditionally had much success – their last best result is fourth in 20/21 – the ‘Submarino’ hopes it will be their oasis in a complicated campaign, including a change of coach. They will try to string together two wins as a visitor, something they have not achieved since last March.
Also from ‘First’, Granada begins its cup adventure in A Lomba (7:00 p.m.) against Arosa, a Third RFEF team that returns to the Cup qualifiers three decades later. Paco López’s pupils see this first crossing of the KO tournament as a lifeline to cling to to get out of the crisis they are currently going through.
And the Nasrid team has not won since August 26, when they achieved their first and only victory so far this year. Furthermore, it will be an excellent opportunity, given their apparent superiority, to assert their status as favorites and make their debut away from Los Cármenes this season. They will have to beat an Arosa team that has not made its stadium a fortress either – only one victory so far in the League – but wants to bring joy to the town of Villagarcía de Arosa, with almost 40,000 inhabitants.
The representation of the LaLiga EA Sports teams will be closed by Alavés, who will visit the modest Deportivo Murcia, created in 2021 and which has been competing since last season. After becoming champion of the Second Autonomous Region, they are now trying to progress in the seventh category of Spanish football. And their feat is notable, since it is the first Primera Autonómica club to reach the final phase of the Copa del Rey.
And on the occasion of this event he will be surrounded by all his fans in La Condomina, where the Basque team will seek to forget their start to the season, with only two wins more than a month and a half ago, and with the defeat (2-1) at the Metropolitano as a last memory. The historic Murcian venue could be the scene of the first victory for the ‘babazorros’ this campaign, in which they still have no fuel far from Mendizorroza.
Finally, four other games will be played with the ‘Segunda’ teams Real Oviedo, Real Zaragoza, Burgos and UD Ibiza as protagonists against Manresa, Atzeneta, Hércules and Villanovense, respectively. The duel will also be played between Gimnástica Segoviana, from the Second RFEF, and Sestao River, from the third category.
–SCHEDULE FIRST ROUND OF THE KING’S CUP.
-Thursday 2.
Chiclana CF – Villarreal CF 19.00.
Arosa – Granada CF 19.00.
Manresa – Real Oviedo 19.00.
Segoviana Gymnastics – Sestao River 19.00.
UD Logroñés – Valencia CF 20.00.
Atzeneta – Real Zaragoza 20.00.
Hercules – Burgos 20.30.
Villanovense – UD Ibiza 20.30.
Deportivo Murcia – Deportivo Alavés 21.00.