[Knoert]

First round

The regionalized draw took place today for the first round of the Spanish cup, with only 36 of the lower ranked sides taking part, and another six given byes to the second round (see below). Matches will be played over one leg on or around 27th August. (22.07.08)

The draw was as follows:
1. Real Oviedo - Pontevedra
2. Ponferradina - Racing Ferrol
3. San Fernando - Poli Ejido
4. Conquense - Cádiz
5. Izarra - Gavá
6. Universidad Las Palmas - Ciempozuelos
7. Orihuela - Atlético Baleares
8. Linares - Ecija
9. Ciudad Santiago - Portugalete
10. Melilla - Ceuta
11. Toledo - Granada
12. Barakaldo - Gimnástica
13. Roquetas - Ciudad Lorquí
14. Ejea - Alzira
15. Alfaro - Aguilas
16. Atlético Granadilla - Don Benito
17. Lugo - Real Unión
18. Sant Andreu - Mirandés.

Byes to second round: Fuerteventura, Benidorm, Lemona, Mérida, Zamora, Granada 74. The second round draw took place at the same time as the. first round draw (see link on La Copa main page for details).

Second round

The draw took place today for the second round of the Spanish cup, with the winners of the first round ties involving the second division B and third division sides being joined by 21 second division A sides (all except Sevilla's B side Sevilla Atlético). The draw was carried out in two sections, the first pairing together the lower ranked sides and the second with only the second division A sides, one of whom (Albacete) was given a bye to the third round. Matches will be played over one leg on or around 3rd September. (22.07.08)

Results of the draw were as follow (see first round draw for previous fixtures):
Winners 1 v Winners 2
Winners 3 v Winners 4
Winners 5 v Winners 6
Winners 7 v Fuerteventura
Winners 8 v Winners 9
Benidorm v Lemona
Winners 10 v Mérida
Winners 11 v Zamora
Winners 12 v Winners 13
Winners 14 v Granada 74
Winners 15 v Winners 16
Winners 17 v Winners 18
Hércules v Levante
Castellón v Eibar
Elche v Alavés
Nàstic v Girona
Huesca v Rayo Vallecano
Salamanca v Las Palmas
Real Sociedad v Zaragoza
Alicante v Celta
Xerez v Murcia
Tenerife v Córdoba

Third round: Once again the 2A sides and the lower division sides will be kept apart. One of the 10 winners from the 2A grouping will be given a bye to the fourth round, and the remaining nine plus the team who had a bye from the last round will play off. The 12 lower division winners from the second round will also meet each other.

The 20 first division clubs will only enter the competition in round four together with the twelve survivors from the previous rounds. The six teams from the lower divisions will play six of the sides who are playing in Europe this season (Real Madrid, Villarreal, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid from the Champions League, and two from Sevilla, Racing Santander and Valencia, participating in the UEFA Cup). The six second division A sides will be drawn against the remaining side from the UEFA cup participants, Spain's representative in the Intertoto cup (Deportivo), and four of the other first division sides. That will leave eight first division sides who will be drawn against each other. As mentioned above, ties take place over two legs, with the first leg at the ground of the lower division club.

Sixteen teams will therefore go in to a fifth round, where the draw will be free. The only proviso is that, where two sides of different divisions meet, the first leg will be played at the ground of the lower division side. As from the quarter finals this condition will no longer apply.

With Spain winning the Euro 2008 tournament and thereby qualifying for this summer's Confederations Cup, the final has been scheduled for Wednesday 13th May. The venue will be decided at a later date, possibly once the four semi-finalists are known. (22.07.08)

Source: www.soccer-spain.com

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Once again a very bad format with 0% chance for the smaller clubs, but good luck to the Basque sides.

 

[Knoert]

Results and fixtures of the Basque teams;

First round
5. Izarra - Gava 1-3
9. Ciudad Santiago - Portugalete 0-1
12. Barakaldo - Gimnástica 2-0
17. Lugo - Real Union 0-3

So only Izarra are out...

Tonight the 2nd round matches will be played, with the following Basque teams;
* Écija (III) v Portugalete (III)
* Benidorm (III) v Lemona (III)
* Barakaldo (III) v Roquetas (III)
* Castellón (II) v Eibar (II)
* Elche (II) v Alavés (II)
* Real Sociedad (II) v Zaragoza (II)

So only two teams playing at home... good luck to all!

 

[Arrieta]

Nice to see Portu go through.

 

[Knoert]

Three through to the third round, two knocked out...

Écija - Portugalete 0-1
Del Olmo

Barakaldo - Roquetas (aet) 1-0
Izeta

Real Unión - Sant Andreu 2-1
Goiko & Larrainzar

Castellón - Eibar 1-0
own goal Pampín

Elche - Alavès 2-0

Real Sociedad - Real Zaragoza 1-0
Marcos

Baraka and Real Unión can't draw a higher playing team, Portu can draw a Segunda B team but that's no problem as Ecija also are Segunda B, while Portu is tercera :thumbsup:.
Real Sociedad will draw a Segunda (A) team again...

No draw yet as far as I know...

 

[Iribar]

An Écija which has Aitor Ramos and Igor Angulo this season, we should follow them closely.

Another interesting Athletic attacking duo is the formed by Gorka Azkorra and Mikel Dañobeitia in Salamanca this season, they're doing pretty well apparently.

 

[Knoert]

In the meanwhile the draw has been made...

3rd round, October 8th.
Ponferradina v Univ Las Palmas
Portugalete v Don Benito
Orihuela v Toledo
Granada 74 v Benidorm
Real Unión v Barakaldo
Melilla v Poli Ejido
Hércules v Girona
Elche v Tenerife
Rayo Vallecano v Albacete
Salamanca v Castellón
Celta v Real Sociedad
Bye: Murcia

One Basque derby, Bizkaia versus Gipuzkoa, Portu should be able to go through I think and Erreala will face a difficult task in Vigo.

So, for sure Real Union or Baraka will face one of these teams; Real Madrid, Villarreal, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Racing Santander or Valencia. If Portu advances they will draw one of these teams too.

If Erreala advances, they'll play one of the remaining Primera sides.

Athletic and Osasuna will enter in the next round, they can either draw a Segunda side or a Primera team who's not named above.

Good luck to the Basque teams, zorte on!

 

[Arrieta]

Nice to see Portu will get a big game if they go through.

How come teams can only be drawn against certain other teams? Is it some kind of seeding or something? It seems quite complicated.

 

[Knoert]

Nice to see Portu will get a big game if they go through.

How come teams can only be drawn against certain other teams? Is it some kind of seeding or something? It seems quite complicated.

You're right, it is complicated.

It's all to protect the big teams, to let them face as less 'resistance' as possible on their way to the cup final. Because the big teams of course have to represent Spain in Europe the RFEF don't want them to enter these competitions tired or with injuries.
Also of coursethe big teams earn more money so they have more power, it would be bad for business in general if teams like Portu or Baraka go far, neutral fans aren't interested in the Cup anymore then...

The Primera teams who qualified for Europe last season always draw a 3rd or 4th level team in the 4th round, so they'll always go through with only few problems, probably they'll all field reserve players.

Guess a reason is as well for few years ago teams like Barça and RMadrid got beaten in the earlier rounds, probably the RFEF won't see that happen anymore.

In short; it's a ridiculous format because the chances to win the cup aren't equal for all teams participating. Mathematically the best teams have the best chance, the worst teams the worst, that's not the way I think.

 

[Arrieta]

Also, the ties are two-legged so there's less chance of an upset.

Shame really, as the cup as a whole suffers and I can't imagine the big teams take it that seriously anyway.

Not like the FA Cup where you get over 400 teams competing and non-league Havant and Waterlooville leading twice at Liverpool last year.

 

[Knoert]

Yesterday played

Portugalete - Don Benito 2-0
1-0 Arzubiaga min. 32.
2-0 Gorroño min. 58.
2500 spectators en La Florida

Celta de Vigo - Real Sociedad 2-0
Goles: 1-0, min.22: Dinei; 2-0, min.65: Dinei.
6223 spectators en Balaídos

Real Unión - Barakaldo 2-1













So, Portu and Real Unión will face a big team in the next round, where also Athletic and Osasuna will join in. arty:
Erreala are out. :thmbdown:

 

[Julken]

In short; it's a ridiculous format because the chances to win the cup aren't equal for all teams participating. Mathematically the best teams have the best chance, the worst teams the worst, that's not the way I think.

Although it isn't fair the format does keep the publics interest in the cup. And i suppose that counts for something.

But i agre that one-legged rounds would be a lot cooler.

 

[Arrieta]

Nice to see Portu in the next round. :thumbsup:

 

[Knoert]

Although it isn't fair the format does keep the publics interest in the cup.

Well, of course more people are interested in the cup when the big teams are still in, because the big teams have most supporters...

On the other hand, I think the neutral viewers prefer real cup matches with real cup surprises, like we see them in France and sometimes in England and Germany...

However, you're right, money is the only thing what counts nowadays... :thmbdown:

Charm, tradition, cult, a cup like in the old days, it seems to be impossible...

 

[Elisa]

The draw

Ida 29/10/2008
Vuelta 12/11/2008

Poli Ejido - Villarreal
Real Unión - Real Madrid :thmbdown:
Benidorm - Barcelona
Orihuela - Atlético
Portugalete - Valencia :thmbdown:
Ponferradina - Sevilla
Elche - Deportivo
Murcia - Racing
Celta - Espanyol
Rayo Vallecano - Almería
Hercules - Valladolid
Castellón - Betis
Athletic - Recreativo :thumbsup:
Getafe - Osasuna
Numancia - Sporting
Málaga - Mallorca

Waddaya think?

 

[Pedroyeste]

Good draw!

 

[Knoert]

Well it's nice for Real Union and Portu (the only 4th level team left!) to have a big opponent at home. Think Real Union should've preferred Barça instead of Madrid because they're not populair in Gipuzkoa of course, but well, it's a big game anyway with probably a sold out Stadium Gal, and who knows what can happen...

As for Athletic, we surely must be able to advance, very tough draw for Osasuna, don't think they'll make it.

 

[Arrieta]

It's certainly a game I feel we can win but recently things haven't been as easy as they should be.

 

[Daniel Noir]

fine draw, big games for the small teams and also a winnable one for us...

 

[mellansnack]

Must admit I would prefer a smaller team than Recreativo. It is possible to fail this one...

Seems like the best teams in Primera are playing the small teams, but the average teams of Primera are playing each other.
This seeding system is worse and worse, the more I see it....

 

[Finrod_HELLAS]

Must admit I would prefer a smaller team than Recreativo. It is possible to fail this one...

Seems like the best teams in Primera are playing the small teams, but the average teams of Primera are playing each other.
This seeding system is worse and worse, the more I see it....

No, just the teams that are playing in Europe, unfortunately for us and other teams