?The newly revamped Copa del Rey is proving a big hit this year. While the Magic of the Copa
30-time winners Barcelona went behind to third-tier UD Ibiza and had to rely on a double from Antoine Griezmann to get them out of trouble, while Unionistas de Salamanca (also third tier) won hearts and minds with their display against Real Madrid.
The recently formed community-owned club – ?whose celebrations after being drawn against Madrid went viral – gave ?Los Blancos a real test despite the eventual 3-1 defeat.
However, the big story of the round was Cultural Leonesa (Segunda B) beating Diego Simeone’s ?Atletico Madrid 2-1.
The last time Los Rojiblancos went out to a Segunda B team was in 2011. The next day manager Gregorio Manzano was fired and replaced by (drum roll…) Diego Simeone.
The only thing that would’ve made it more embarrassing for the Argentine coach would have been if Leonesa had been wearing this kit.
Atleti weren’t the only Goliath felled in the round of 32, as Primera sides Mallorca, Espanyol, Celta Vigo and Real Betis all went out, while Bilbao needed penalties to get past Elche.
In the words of The Spanish Football Podcast: #CopaDelYay.
Bring on the last 16!
2019/20 Copa del Rey Last 16 Draw
| ?Badajoz | vs | ?Granada |
| ?Cultural Leonesa | ?vs | ?Valencia |
| ?Tenerife | ?vs | Athletic Club? |
| ?Real Zaragoza | ?vs | ?Real Madrid |
| ?Mirandes | vs? | Sevilla? |
| ?Rayo Vallecano | vs? | ?Villarreal |
| ??Barcelona | ?vs | ?Leganes |
| ?Real Sociedad | ?vs | ?Osasuna |
As reward for being the last two Segunda B sides in the draw, Badajoz and Cultural Leonesa were drawn with Granada and Valencia respectively – the former perhaps less glamorous but eminently winnable. Amazingly, Badajoz are fourth in the division that also contains Granada’s B side.
After seeing off Atleti, Qatari-backed Leonesa – in the last 16 for the first time since 1960 – will be confident of facing whoever comes to the lion’s den, or Lion King Stadium as their home turf is genuinely called. Well, sort of – Estadio Reino de Leon.
Tenerife, Rayo and Mirandes can give life to middling seasons in the second tier with big scalps against their Primera opponents.
Fantastic draw for Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey. Real Zaragoza away will feel like a PROPER cup tie. Stadium will be absolutely packed, team and fans will be really up for it, should be a great spectacle which is just what you want from the Copa.
— Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro) January 24, 2020
Zaragoza – who are seeking promotion back to the top flight under former Copa del Rey winner as a player Victor Fernandez – hosting Real Madrid is arguably the tie of the round.
Barcelona face off against relegation battlers Leganes in a fixture that looks infinitely less anxiety-inducing for Quique Setien than, say, away to Rayo or Leonesa…
The other all-Primera match-up sees Europe-chasing Real Sociedad host Osasuna – a contest that finished 4-3 in the league just last month.
The last 16 ties will be played in a single-match format on 28, 29 and 30 of January.
Let’