Football: Five Copa del Rey Matches Where Upsets Could Happen
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Madrid (Spain), Jan 4 (NationPress) The third round of the Copa del Rey in Spain is set to unfold with five matches on Sunday, where potential upsets loom as lower league teams host their top-flight counterparts. Ourense, hailing from the third tier, will welcome Valladolid, a team that currently sits at the bottom of La Liga. They are likely to be more focused on staying in the top division rather than pursuing cup glory, which might lead to fatigue as they fight to avoid relegation.
Real Sociedad is set to visit Ponferradina, who compete in the RFEF I division and are positioned just below the classification of Real Sociedad's B-team. While the team from San Sebastian is undoubtedly the favorite, they must remain cautious.
Elche will host Las Palmas in a match that appears relatively balanced. Elche currently ranks fourth in the Spanish second division and is striving for promotion. Las Palmas has shown significant improvement since the arrival of coach Diego Martinez, making this one of the most evenly matched ties in this round.
Racing Santander, another team thriving in the Spanish second division, will face Celta Vigo, who are known for their offensive capabilities but can be shaky defensively. Much will depend on whether Celta includes veteran captain Iago Aspas, who just signed a new contract lasting until the end of June 2026. Cartagena, currently sitting second from the bottom of the second division, will play at home against Leganes. The top-flight side is likely more concerned about survival than the Copa del Rey, suggesting this could turn into a match featuring reserve players, with both sides hesitant about an exhausting cup journey.
Real Madrid is scheduled to play away against Deportiva Minera, with this game also set to occur in Cartagena on Monday. Meanwhile, Valencia will visit second-division Eldense on Tuesday, aiming for a confidence-boosting victory under new coach Carlos Corberan following their disappointing league loss to Madrid on Friday night.
