The Copa del Rey has once again left victims and heroes along the way. The third round of the knockout competition has lifted UD Barbastro to heaven and sent UD Almería to hell. A club from the Second Federation, the fourth tier of Spanish football, beating a team from the First Division to reach the round of 16, where Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid and Osasuna, the four clubs that will play the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in January, will enter. In Barbastro, in the province of Huesca, the big surprise happened. But there were also scares.

If on Tuesday night Getafe and Valencia had no problems winning at the fields of Atzeneta and Arosa, the holiday Wednesday did leave unexpected sensations for the favorite clubs. Cartagena beat Alcorcón on penalties, Huesca beat Antequera, Tenerife beat Deportivo de la Coruña in extra time, Burgos won at Arenteiro, Unionistas surprised Sporting, Málaga overcame Eldense, Amorebieta won at Levante and Lugo beat Mirandés.

As for the First Division clubs, there were scares, lots of scares. At midday, Rayo Vallecano could not score against Yeclano until the 89th minute, thanks to the miraculous appearance of Falcao. De Tomás put the finishing touches in the 94th minute, but the Segunda RFEF side fought until the final stretch of the match and came close to provoking extra time.

Later, Real Sociedad also suffered against fourth-tier opponents, Andratx from the Balearic Islands. The txuri-urdin breathed a sigh of relief in the second half thanks to a goal from André Silva, but struggled in stoppage time to hold on to the result. A victory by the minimum that Alavés 'copied' in Terrassa. The team from Vitoria scored early, in the 21st minute, but could not increase their lead and ended up asking for the hour against the Second RFEF club.

On the night shift, Betis were on the verge of being eliminated in Villanueva de la Serena. Villanovense, also from the Segunda RFEF, took the lead and when it seemed that the Andalusians were going to suffer the big surprise of this round, Abde appeared to tie the duel in the 89th minute. With the home side sinking by the post, Borja Iglesias completed the comeback in stoppage time to save Pellegrini's side, who host Madrid this Saturday.

More comfortable were the victories of Mallorca (0-3) and Sevilla (0-2) against Valle Egüés and Astorga. And Las Palmas suffered a lot in Tudela against Tudelano. The Canaries took the lead in the opening stretch but the locals, also from Segunda RFEF, managed to equalise and forced extra time, where they were eliminated by a goal by Munir in the 124th minute that qualified Las Palmas.


  • RFEF
  • Articles Abraham Romero