Copa del Rey Upsets: Lower-Division Teams Send Shockwaves Through Round of 32
The Copa del Rey witnessed a dramatic Sunday, with two La Liga teams, Valladolid and las Palmas, suffering shocking eliminations at the hands of lower-division opponents. Ourense,currently second-to-last in their Primera RFEF group,stunned valladolid 3-2 at O Couto,while Elche,sitting fourth in the Segunda División,delivered a resounding 4-0 defeat to Las Palmas at Martínez Valero.
These upsets add to the growing list of La Liga casualties in this year’s Copa del Rey. Eight top-flight teams, including Mallorca (last year’s runner-up), Sevilla, Espanyol, villarreal, Girona, Alavés, Valladolid, and Las Palmas, have already been knocked out before reaching the round of 16.
Valladolid, currently at the bottom of La Liga, saw their hopes dashed despite taking an early lead twice through goals from Raúl Moro and Amallah. ourense fought back valiantly,leveling the score before halftime. A 52nd-minute strike from Ángel Sánchez sealed Valladolid’s fate, leaving them reeling after a challenging season. Adding to their woes, Raúl Moro suffered a right knee sprain in the 70th minute, forcing Valladolid to play the final 20 minutes with ten men.
Las Palmas, meanwhile, faced an uphill battle from the start against Elche. A 44th-minute goal from Mendoza put them behind at halftime. The second half saw Elche dominate, with affengruber, Salinas, and Nico Fernández adding three more goals to secure a convincing victory.
In other Round of 32 matches, Granada fell to Getafe 0-1, while rayo Vallecano overcame Ferrol Racing 3-1. Pontevedra pulled off a surprise 3-0 victory against Mallorca, Huesca lost 0-1 to Betis, and Tenerife was defeated 1-2 by Athletic Bilbao. Almeria continued their impressive form with a 4-1 triumph over Sevilla, and Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 win against Barbastro.
copa del Rey: Round of 32 Results and Upcoming fixtures
The Copa del Rey Round of 32 saw a mix of thrilling upsets and expected victories. Several La Liga teams faced tough challenges from lower-division opponents, resulting in some nail-biting encounters.
Notable Results:
Elche delivered a dominant performance, crushing Las Palmas with a resounding 4-0 victory.
Ourense pulled off a surprise win against Valladolid, edging them out 3-2 in a closely contested match.
celta Vigo emerged victorious in a high-scoring affair against Racing, securing a 3-2 win.
Real Sociedad showcased their strength, comfortably defeating Ponferradina 2-0.
Leganes secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Cartagena.
Penalty Drama:
Logroñés and Athletic Club battled to a 0-0 draw, with Athletic ultimately prevailing 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout.
Atlético Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 win against Marbella, demonstrating their resilience.
Looking Ahead:
The Copa del Rey action continues with two exciting fixtures:
Monday: Deportiva Minera will host Real Madrid at 7:00 PM. Real Madrid, aiming for their 20th Copa del Rey title, will be looking to avoid an upset against the lower-division side.
* Tuesday: Eldense will welcome Valencia at 9:00 PM. Valencia, having won the Copa del Rey eight times, will be hoping to progress to the next round.
The Copa del Rey Round of 32 has already provided some memorable moments,and the upcoming fixtures promise more excitement as teams battle for a place in the Round of 16.
Copa del Rey: Giant-Killers Run Rampant, Leaving La Liga Giants Reeling
The Copa del Rey, Spain’s prestigious knockout tournament, is known for its capacity to produce shock upsets. This year’s edition is proving no exception, with two more La Liga giants falling victim to lower-division challengers in a dramatic Round of 32.
David Slays Goliath Again
Sunday witnessed the unthinkable as Segunda RFEF minnows Ourense, currently languishing second-to-last in their group, engineered a stunning 3-2 victory over La Liga’s Valladolid at O Couto. Meanwhile, Elche, sitting comfortably in fourth place in the Segunda División, unleashed a deafening 4-0 rout against Las Palmas at Martínez Valero, sending shockwaves through the tournament.
These upsets add to a growing list of la Liga casualties in this year’s Copa del Rey. Eight top-flight teams, including last year’s runner-up Mallorca, Sevilla, Espanyol, Villarreal, Girona, Alavés, Valladolid, and now Las Palmas, have already been eliminated before even reaching the round of 16.
A Season of Surprises
This unexpected string of eliminations raises questions about the competitiveness of La Liga and the surprising form of lower-division teams. While some might attribute these upsets to complacency from the top-flight sides, it’s imperative to acknowledge the resilience and tactical prowess of the underdog teams. ourense and Elche displayed exemplary teamwork, discipline, and clinical finishing, exposing vulnerabilities within their more fancied opponents.
The beauty of the Cup
The Copa del Rey’s unpredictability is what makes it such a captivating spectacle. While La Liga teams undoubtedly enter the competition with ambitions of securing silverware, the magic of the cup lies in providing underdogs with a platform to showcase their abilities and challenge the established order.
The Round of 16 promises to be an intriguing affair, with several David-and-Goliath clashes potentially on the horizon. Will the trend of upsets continue, or will the remaining La Liga clubs reassert their dominance? Only time will tell. One thing is for certain: the Copa del Rey, with its capacity for thrilling surprises, will continue to enthrall football fans across the globe.
