Madrid, Oct 27 (NationPress) The inaugural round of Spain's Copa del Rey knockout tournament commences this week, featuring matches scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Although the opening rounds do not involve Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Athletic Club, who are set to compete in the Spanish Super Cup in January, they promise to deliver significant thrills. The competition structure allows lower-division teams to host, as reported by Xinhua.

This arrangement means that La Liga clubs will play their initial two matches on the road, raising the chances of unexpected outcomes and enabling fans from lower divisions to witness elite teams in venues that typically do not host top-tier matches.

Coaches from La Liga teams have differing perspectives on the Copa. Some view it as an opportunity to give playing time to less utilized players, while others, especially those struggling at the bottom of the table, may find it an unwelcome distraction.

For instance, Oviedo coach Luis Carrion perceives his team's Copa visit to Ourense as a potential pitfall, with the third-tier club capable of posing challenges to a team currently struggling in the La Liga standings. The strength of both teams' starting line-ups will be crucial, as coaches might opt to rotate and employ squad players.

Girona, at the bottom of La Liga, will visit Mallorca to contest against fifth-tier Constancia, which is anticipated to be a manageable match for Michel Sanchez's squad, who are starting to show signs of recovery.

Getafe is expected to face minimal challenges against the amateur team Inter de Valdemoro, who compete in the sixth tier, while UD Maracena - another amateur side - awaits Valencia.

Fifth-tier Toledo will host Sevilla at the Salto de Caballo Stadium, where local fans will likely reminisce about the club's past successes in the second division. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad travels to Galicia to meet the amateurs of CD Negreira, whose players can expect a memorable evening, albeit likely without a victory.