Under the spotlight for once

CD Arenteiro will face Atlético de Madrid in the second round after beating LaLiga side UD Almería 2-0. | Image: CD Arenteiro.

This Copa del Rey edition will remain in the history books of many humble Spanish teams who experienced what it’s like to compete against the elite

Last weekend saw the Copa del Rey kick-off with 55 matches played. Ten non-professional clubs competed against LaLiga sides, some like Atlético de Madrid had to use their best players to get through and the first-round surprise came from CD Arenteiro, a fourth division team who knocked out UD Almería. Everything can happen in this tournament, considered as a unique opportunity for small clubs and players.

A special date

Ten teams from the Spanish sixth division enjoyed one of the most important games in their history against the best clubs in the country. These were the results and some of the stories behind them:

CD Algar 1-6 RC Celta Vigo

The Murcian side was lucky to end up playing the game as 24 hours before the kickoff they didn’t have a stadium to host the tie. Their home, the Sánchez Luengo stadium, didn’t meet the requirements imposed by the Spanish Football Association regarding lighting, separation of stands from the field, accessibility and medical facilities. They could use the Cartagonova stadium, home of FC Cartagena, but the turf was in terrible condition and the club noticed it one day before the Copa del Rey fixture. They finally decided to play in Lorca, a city about an hour’s drive away from El Algar, and the fans were able to watch the game because the club charted buses to get there.

The local team gave the Celestes a scare, as they started leading the game with a goal in the 15th minute. Cristian Muñoz scored a header after a great corner by Ketchup, a 35-year-old striker considered the best player in the team. In the end, Celta made an easy come back due to the differences between both teams in terms of physicality and technique.

Andrés Noguera was awarded as the best goalkeeper of the sixth division last season under the CD Algar shirt. | Image: CD Algar.

It was a special game for the fans but at the same time a time to remember Andrés Noguera, ex-keeper of the team who sadly passed away last August due to a road traffic accident.

CD Autol 0-6 RCD Mallorca

CD Autol, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary and was founded by people of the town with the help of a priest, didn’t have a prayer against Real Mallorca. The Bermellones are performing at their best this season, winning against teams like Valencia CF, Atlético Madrid or Villarreal CF. They made their debut in Copa del Rey scoring four in the first 45 minutes to avoid problems and did the rest in the second half.

People of Autol couldn’t have enjoyed the game more. The town counts a population of over 5,000 people and 3,700 fans travelled to La Planilla stadium, located in other neighbouring village in La Rioja known as Calahorra.

UD Barbadás 0-2 Real Valladolid

The Galician side, who will celebrate its silver jubilee in 2023, did what they could against Real Valladolid. They conceded two goals in the first minutes, but the best moment of the game happened when Pablo Atanes, local keeper and one of the most handsome men in the country according to the Mr. Spain contest, saved a penalty in the second half.

People in the town were fascinated about the possibility of watching Real Valladolid owner Ronaldo Nazario in the O Couto stadium skybox, but it wasn’t possible due to the busy schedule of the Brazilian star.

CD Cazalegas 1-4 Real Sociedad

The humble team of Toledo, who haven’t lost in the sixth division yet this season, did an incredible effort to stand up against the Basque side, which is currently third in LaLiga. Real Sociedad’s coach Imanol Alguacil surprised the media at the pre-match press conference analyzing the CD Cazalegas style of play and naming some of its players.

The local club was able to level the game in the 68th minute but then they conceded three goals in four minutes to say goodbye to the dream of knocking out one of the giants of the draw.

CD Fuentes 1-4 CA Osasuna

CD Fuentes and Osasuna were the main characters of one of the most exciting games in the first round of Copa del Rey. The home team was able to respond to the goal of its opponent just one minute before half time with a counter attack that could have been a Real Madrid signature in José Mourinho’s time at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The MVP of the game was the local keeper, Borja León, who was a nightmare for their rivals during the game with his saves. In the end, he couldn’t do anything to avoid the hurricane of chances Osasuna created just at the start of the second half, but his performance will not be forgotten.

CD L’Alcora 0-3 Elche CF

CD L’Alcora hosted LaLiga’s bottom side while storms led to downpours across the Comunidad Valenciana over the weekend. One third of the population of Alcora travelled to Castellón to watch their team, which counts in its ranks players like Breto, who works as a paint delivery man and plays football in the afternoons.

Elche CF took to the turf with its best starting eleven and didn’t give a chance to its opponents, who won’t forget this experience as they trained during the week and ended up playing in the Villarreal CF facilities.

CFJ Mollerussa 1-3 Rayo Vallecano

The Catalan side received one of the most popular teams nowadays in LaLiga, who went to the game with confidence after beating Real Madrid 3-2 in Vallecas. It wasn’t the first time both teams had met, as during the 1988/99 season they drew 2-2 in the second matchday of LaLiga 2. This time the game could have ended in a similar way, but Andoni Iraola’s squad were able to score two goals at the end to overcome the 1-1 draw of the first half.

Jofre Graells, CFJ Mollerusa player, wrote a tweet that went viral after the end of the match: “Yesterday players like Isi and Trejo were chasing me to steal the ball and today my mum is the one doing it to make me leave my trainers in the cupboard”.

CD Rincón 0-3 RCD Espanyol

More than 8,000 people enjoyed an historic game in La Rosaleda, home of LaLiga 2 side Malaga CF. CD Rincón were able to maintain a 0-0 draw until the half time, but after the break RCD Espanyol was able to score three and ended the dream of the Andalusian side.

Aitor Castillo, CD Rincón coach, said that the game went too long for them. However, it will be unforgettable for one of his players, Pepe Capitán, who tattooed the Copa del Rey trophy and the date of the fixture on his arm to represent what the game made him feel.

Santa Amalia 0-9 Villarreal CF

Villarreal went into the game with a lack of confidence after a poor form in the previous weeks with three defeats, one draw and a win in their last five games. Quique Setién was struggling to adapt after taking the reins of the team on 25th October due to the departure of Unai Emery to Aston Villa. However, the fixture against Santa Amalia was a mere formality for the Yellow Submarine. The home side had just one shot on target but made its fans proud competing at its best against a team who are five divisions above.

Velarde CF 0-2 Sevilla FC

The Cantabrian side, whose name represents a soldier, enjoyed every minute against six-time Europa League winners and Champions League participants Sevilla FC. The match was the best tribute for Rubén Rueda, ex-president of Velarde CF who sadly passed away in February due to a heart attack. The local team managed to play at its home, La Maruca, where supplementary stands were installed to allow 3,000 people to live an historic game.

The secretary of the club, José González, promised Sports Gazette that he would run from the stadium to the peak of the mountain Peña Cabarga if they eliminated Sevilla FC, so now he should be feeling a mix of sadness and relief after the final whistle.

Not their best day at the office

UD Almería and Cádiz CF were caught sleeping and as result they ended their journey in Copa del Rey too soon considering the differences between the budget and level of the squad compared to their opponents.

The former were surprised by CD Arenteiro, a team who are now leading the fourth division and haven’t lost a single game this season. They didn’t expect the high pace their rivals displayed on the grass, but they also were not good enough on social media, as the official account of the club tweeted that the rain that fell during the game had a big impact on the final result.

The latter played better than their league rivals, but a clinical shot from 30 meters that ended in the top corner in the 93rd minute eliminated them from the competition. Real Unión, who is at the bottom of the table in the Spanish third division, were the executioner after coming back from 2-1 down in the second half.

Nearly in trouble

Other LaLiga teams who are not showing their best level this season also struggled to stay alive in the Copa del Rey.

Atlético de Madrid had to play with Oblak, Griezmann, Koke and Joao Felix as starters to win 2-0 against SD Almazán, a team who are in the middle of the fifth division table.

The local club tweeted that they had sacked their manager after the defeat, but it was clearly a joke as the post was uploaded at 4 a.m. while the board members and players were celebrating the experience of facing Diego Simeone’s team.

On the other hand, their neighbors Getafe CF had to win in extra time against San Roque de Lepe, who are fighting to remain in the fourth division this campaign. At the end of the match, their coach Quique Sánchez Flores said the following: “We want to compete in this tournament, but it has a format designed to allow the biggest teams to reach the final stages and qualify for the Spanish Supercup, a competition that is very fashionable now”.

What’s next?

The second round of the Copa del Rey will take place on 20, 21 and 22 December. 27 one legged ties will be played, and only four LaLiga teams are exempt from competing in this phase: FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Real Betis and Valencia CF. As part of the rules, the top two finishers in LaLiga and Copa del Rey last season won’t play until the third fixture, which will be hosted in January.

Let the hunger games continue.