Copa del Rey first round: Rayo, Espanyol face fourth-tier tests in Spain
Synopsis
Spain's Copa del Rey throws up its annual David-vs-Goliath moments as the first round begins on 26 October — but for Espanyol, stuck in the La Liga relegation zone and under a coach fighting for his job, a trip to fourth-tier Sestao River is less a Cup adventure and more a potential crisis point.
Key Takeaways
Copa del Rey first round kicks off on Tuesday, 26 October , with 16 La Liga sides in action over three days.
Rayo Vallecano face Recreativo de Huelva , Spain's oldest club (founded 1889 ), who currently lead their second Federación group with 17 points from 8 games .
Espanyol travel to Sestao River's Las Llanas Stadium in Bilbao, sitting in the La Liga relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat to Racing Santander on Saturday.
Coach Manolo González faces mounting pressure; Espanyol were knocked out by a third-tier club last season.
Real Sociedad , Barcelona , Real Madrid , and Atlético Madrid are exempt from the first two rounds.
Spain's Copa del Rey first round gets underway on Tuesday, 26 October, with 16 La Liga clubs entering the competition over the next three days. The knockout format hands lower-division sides home advantage against top-flight opponents, offering smaller clubs a vital revenue boost and a rare shot at a giant-killing act.
Key Matchups to Watch
Rayo Vallecano and Espanyol face the most daunting assignments of the round. Rayo travel to meet Recreativo de Huelva, while Espanyol head to Sestao River — both opponents competing in the Segunda Federación, Spain's fourth tier, and both having reached the final of the Copa Federación, scheduled for November.
Other notable ties include Pinatar hosting Elche, Sporting de Alcazar taking on Málaga, and Manacor entertaining Villarreal. While the quality gap makes outright upsets unlikely, the Cup format ensures these matches carry outsized significance for the smaller clubs.
Recreativo de Huelva: Spain's Oldest Club Eyes an Upset
Founded in 1889, Recreativo de Huelva holds the distinction of being Spain's oldest football club. The side is no stranger to the Copa del Rey — it reached the final as recently as 2003, where it lost 3-0 to Mallorca. Currently leading Group IV of the Segunda Federación with 17 points from eight games, Recreativo arrive in strong form and could exploit a rattled Rayo Vallecano, who suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Elche on Saturday.
Pressure Mounts on Espanyol Coach Manolo González
Espanyol coach Manolo González heads into the tie at Sestao River's Las Llanas Stadium, on the outskirts of Bilbao, under significant pressure. A 2-1 defeat to Racing Santander on Saturday left the Barcelona-based club in the La Liga relegation zone, and speculation over González's future has intensified. Last season, Espanyol were already knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Atlético Baleares, which was then a third-tier side — another early exit could well accelerate the coach's departure.
Sestao River, for their part, have made an impressive start to their own segunda Federación campaign and top their group, giving them genuine momentum heading into the tie.
Who Is Exempt and What Comes Next
Defending champions Real Sociedad, along with FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid — all four of whom are set to compete in the Spanish Supercup in February — are exempt from the opening two rounds. Their entry into the competition comes at the third-round stage, meaning clubs surviving the early rounds will eventually face the elite. The first round concludes over the next three days, with winners advancing to the second round draw.
Point of View
But the Espanyol tie at Sestao River is less a sporting curiosity and more a pressure cooker for Manolo González. Relegated clubs in Spain's top flight have historically leaned on Cup runs for morale; losing to a fourth-tier side a second successive season would strip away that narrative entirely. Recreativo de Huelva's case also deserves more attention than it typically gets — Spain's oldest club, leading their division with genuine quality, is not a soft touch. The broader Copa del Rey model remains one of European football's most effective levelling mechanisms, and this round is a reminder of why the format endures.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Copa del Rey first round take place?
The Copa del Rey first round begins on Tuesday, 26 October and runs over three days, featuring 16 La Liga clubs facing lower-division opponents on their home grounds.
Why are Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid not in the first round?
Real Sociedad (defending Cup holders), Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid are all exempt from the first two rounds of the Copa del Rey, entering at the third-round stage. Their exemption is linked to their participation in the Spanish Supercup scheduled for February.
Who is Recreativo de Huelva and why are they a threat to Rayo Vallecano?
Recreativo de Huelva, founded in 1889, is Spain's oldest football club. Currently leading Group IV of the Segunda Federación with 17 points from eight games, they are in strong form. They also reached the Copa del Rey final in 2003, and Rayo arrive having just lost 3-0 at home to Elche.
What is the pressure on Espanyol coach Manolo González?
Espanyol are in the La Liga relegation zone following a 2-1 defeat to Racing Santander on Saturday, and speculation over González's job has grown. The club was also knocked out of last season's Copa del Rey by third-tier Atlético Baleares, making another early Cup exit potentially terminal for his tenure.
What advantage do lower-division clubs have in the Copa del Rey first round?
The Copa del Rey's knockout format grants lower-division clubs home advantage against La Liga opponents in the opening rounds. This provides significant revenue and the possibility of a high-profile upset, making the first round a celebrated part of Spanish football culture.
