Almeria Suffers Major Setback in Copa del Rey, Rayo and Betis Advance Last Minute
In a stunning turn of events, Almeria faced a significant blow, while Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis narrowly secured their spots in the Copa del Rey’s second round.
Almeria, a La Liga team, experienced a shock defeat in the second round of the Copa del Rey, Spain’s premier knockout football tournament. They were eliminated by Barbastro, a team from the Segunda RFEF, a league three categories below them. This unexpected loss is a major setback for Almeria, who have been struggling in the league as well, currently sitting at the bottom of the standings with no wins in fifteen matches.
The match against Barbastro saw Almeria fail to show their superiority on the pitch. Franki Carbonell’s goal in the 28th minute sealed Almeria’s fate and sent shockwaves through the team. Coach Gaizka Garitano expressed his disappointment at the post-match press conference, calling it a “day of total discredit.” Garitano emphasized the team’s high expectations and their failure to deliver, stating, “We had the obligation to win, and we didn’t show it at any moment.”
With their elimination from the Copa del Rey, Almeria can now focus solely on their league campaign and work towards improving their poor performance. The second round of the tournament also witnessed the exit of three other teams from higher divisions: Sporting de Gijón, Eldense, and Mirandés, all defeated by lower-tier opponents.
Sporting de Gijón, who have been enjoying a successful season in the Segunda División, were surprisingly defeated 2-0 by Unionistas from the Primera RFEF. Eldense, another Segunda División team, fell to Málaga, now competing in the Primera RFEF, with Juanpe’s goal just before halftime sealing their fate. Mirandés also suffered a 2-0 loss to Lugo from the Primera RFEF.
While some La Liga teams experienced setbacks, others managed to secure their spots in the Round of 16, although not without a fight. Rayo Vallecano emerged victorious with a 0-2 win against Yeclano, thanks to goals from Radamel Falcao and Raúl de Tomás in the final moments of the match. Alavés overcame Terrassa with a narrow 0-1 victory, courtesy of Xeber Alkain’s goal in the first half.
Real Betis faced a challenging encounter against Villanovense, falling behind by a goal until Abde equalized in the 89th minute. In added time, Borja Iglesias saved the day for Manuel Pellegrini’s men, preventing a potential disaster.
In other Copa del Rey action, Real Sociedad secured a 0-1 victory over Andraxt, thanks to André Silva’s first goal of the season. Mallorca sailed through with a convincing 0-3 win against Valle Egües, featuring a brace from Javier Llabrés and a goal from Dani Rodríguez.
Sevilla advanced to the next round thanks to penalty goals from Sergio Ramos and Federico Gattoni against Atlético Astorga. Las Palmas faced a tough challenge from Tudelano, with Munir El-Haddadi scoring the winning goal in the 123rd minute of extra time.
Among the clashes between teams from the Segunda División, Alcorcón and Cartagena battled to a penalty shootout victory for the latter, while Amorebieta claimed a 0-1 win against Levante with Javier Eraso’s goal.
In additional Copa del Rey matches, Tenerife, Burgos, and Huesca emerged victorious, setting the stage for an exciting Round of 16.
The second round of the Copa del Rey was filled with surprises and thrilling encounters, proving once again that in football, anything can happen. The eliminated teams must regroup and refocus on their respective league campaigns, while those who advanced can look forward to the next round with renewed determination and enthusiasm.
