Copa del Rey first round promises glory of the Cup but few upsets-Xinhua
MADRID, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The first-round draw for the Spanish Copa del Rey was made on Monday, pitting some of the country's biggest clubs against amateur and semi-professional sides. The first two rounds do not include the four clubs that will play in the Spanish Super Cup in February, with FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and reigning Copa del Rey holder Real Sociedad entering at the round of 32. However, the draw does include teams such as 2024 Cup winner Athletic Bilbao, as well as Real Betis, Villarreal, Sevilla and Valencia. The first round also features 10 teams from Spain's regional leagues that came through a preliminary round, with those sides guaranteed a lucrative home tie against higher-level opposition. Eight of the teams to play in the first round were de...