Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s possible opponents for the Copa del Rey Round of 32
Real Madrid will begin their journey in the 2022/23 Copa Rel Rey next month, when they enter the tournament at the third round, i.e., Round of 32.
Los Blancos were exempted from participating in the second round of the tournament due to their involvement in the Spanish Super Cup, along with Barcelona, Valencia and Real Betis, all of whom will also begin their Copa del Rey quest from the upcoming round.
With the draw for the Round of 32 fixtures set to take place later today, we take a look at Real Madrid’s possible opponents for the next stage of the cup competition.
As per the rules of the tournament, not only Real Madrid get to enter the tournament in the third round, but they will also be avoiding facing any team from La Liga at this stage.
Indeed, the Merengues’ opponents for the Round of 32 phase of the Copa del Rey will come from either the RFEF First Division or RFEF Second Division.
With that in mind, Real Madrid could face one of ten possible teams from the lower divisions that have made it to the Round of 32.
The two teams from the RFEF Second Division who can be drawn against Real Madrid are CD Ibiza Islas Pitiusas and CP Cacereño, who defeated Eibar and Girona, respectively, in the second round of the tournament.
As for the teams from the RFEF First Division who could face Real Madrid, they are as follows: Pontevedra CF, AD Ceuta, CF Intercity, UD Logroñés, CD Eldense, Linares Deportivo, Nàstic de Tarragona and La Nucía.
Real Madrid have not won the Copa del Rey in eight years, with their last triumph in the competition coming in 2014. And manager Carlo Ancelotti has highlighted that it is a trophy that they want to win this season.
The Round of 32 fixtures of the Copa del Rey will be played between January 3-5, at the home of the lower division team.
According to reports from Mario Cortegana (h/t Madrid Zone), Real Madrid have two objectives for the upcoming summer transfer window. The centre-forward and the right-wing position are seen as the two positions to be reinforced but no decision has been made yet about making a move.
This comes over and above the Merengues’ pre-existing need for new midfielders and full-backs in the coming windows.
At first sight, it may appear that Los Blancos are well stacked in the final third. In Vinicius Jr, Karim Benzema and Rodrygo Goes, they have three starting quality players who are well-complemented by the likes of Marco Asensio and Federico Valverde.
Yet, Vinicius is the only player on the aforementioned list who can boast of a starting role in a fixed position for at least the next decade.
There is worry over the centre-forward role considering Benzema’s lack of form and fitness throughout the current campaign. With the Ballon d’Or winner already 35, the club need a young reinforcement soon which is evident with the team’s struggle for goals this term.
Los Blancos have already invested heavily in Endrick in this regard. However, that has not stopped them from following established options like Dusan Vlahovic and Erling Haaland as their Brazilian wonderkid will not arrive until 2024.
The right wing is also understaffed despite the presence of young Rodrygo and Fede Valverde. The duo have no dearth of talent but have not managed to click on the wing as well as the manager would have liked.
Thus, it remains to be seen as to who the club targets to strengthen the wing and aim to stretch the play. Given the heavy investment planned for Jude Bellingham, a low-cost option is likely to be considered.
