MADRID, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Copa del Rey holder Athletic Bilbao kicks off this season's campaign when they make the short trip to La Rioja to face UD Logrones.
In theory, a team that plays in the fourth tier of the Spanish game (RFEF II) shouldn't be a threat to a team that has not lost a cup tie decided over one game since 2019, but Logrones has already beaten one top-flight side, seeing off Girona in the second round, by winning a penalty shootout with an outfield player in goal after playing for almost half and hour with a player less.
The Las Gaunas Stadium is sold out and there will be a great atmosphere as Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde travels without the injured trio of Oihan Sancet, Yeray Alvarez and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta.
With his side jetting off to Saudi Arabia to face FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal on January 8, Valverde has to find a balance between keeping players fresh and giving them some game time after the short Christmas break.
Barcelona has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this week, as it tried and failed to maintain Dani Olmo's registration amid continued financial woes.
The club has appealed to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in a desperate attempt to have the Spain international available for their visit to RFEF II side Barbastro.
The two teams met at the same stage of the Cup last season, with Barcelona taking a narrow 3-2 win in what is considered one of the coldest grounds in Spain, in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains.
Lamine Yamal misses out with an ankle injury, but Ronald Araujo could be back to give Hansi Flick more options in defense.
Atletico Madrid is away to third-tier rival Marbella, with the match played at Malaga's La Rosaleda stadium, and the team that went into the Christmas holidays as league leader will make few concessions, especially after flirting with defeat before goals in the last 10 minutes saw them past lowly Cacereno in the last round.
Players such as Conor Gallagher, Alexander Sorloth and Angel Correa are all likely starters, as Diego Simeone looks for a winning start to the new year.
The round has three more games, all of which could produce surprises, with second-tier Huesca at home to Real Betis, who has been very inconsistent this season.
Second-tier struggler Tenerife has a new coach in Alvaro Cervera, and although the former Cadiz boss has always insisted the league is his priority, a win in the cup at home to Osasuna would doubtless raise morale around the club.
Osasuna was minutes away from defeat away to third-tier Ceuta, scoring three goals in the last six minutes to reach the third round, and coach Victor Moreno won't make as many changes as he did in Ceuta, as he looks to end a run of form that has seen Osasuna fail to win any of their last six games in La Liga.
Saturday also sees an Andalusian derby between Almeria and Sevilla, with second-tier leader Almeria very capable of causing an upset as they go into the game after a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
With Sevilla sitting 14th in La Liga, the Copa del Rey is their main chance of winning anything this season, and players such as Saul Niguez, Suso and Kelechi Iheanacho all look likely to figure in a strong line-up. ■
