The draw for the quarter-finals of the Spanish King's Cup for the 2025-2026 season, which took place today, Monday, resulted in some heavyweight clashes that promise plenty of excitement and competitiveness, with all eyes on the path of FC Barcelona, who will face the biggest surprise of the tournament so far.
Barcelona face a test against the dark horse
The draw has pitted the Catalan club, Barcelona, against Albacete, the only remaining team from the second division, in a potentially tricky encounter. This match carries particular significance and media attention, not only because it pits a top-flight team against a lower-division side, but also because Albacete enters the game with sky-high morale after their stunning upset of Real Madrid in the round of 16.
Albacete pulled off the biggest upset of the season last Wednesday, defeating Real Madrid 3-2 in a dramatic match, forcing Los Blancos out of the competition early and securing a historic place among the top eight. Barcelona, who cruised past Racing Santander with a 2-0 victory, will be looking to avoid a similar fate to their arch-rivals and secure their own place in the semi-finals.
Fierce clashes and bone-breaking
Aside from the Barcelona clash, the draw produced some exciting La Liga encounters, with seven top-flight clubs competing in this round. The Real Betis vs. Atlético Madrid as one of the most anticipated fixtures. Atlético, buoyed by their recent 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruña, will be looking to continue their title challenge, while Betis will be aiming to capitalize on home advantage after their hard-fought win against Elche.
In another classic encounter, Valencia will face Athletic Bilbao , a match that evokes a long history of rivalry in the Copa del Rey, with Bilbao historically considered one of the tournament's powerhouses. The quarterfinals also feature a thrilling mini-derby between Deportivo Alavés and Real Sociedad , the latter having narrowly qualified via a penalty shootout against Osasuna.
The importance of the tournament and the timing of the decision
The Copa del Rey is one of the most prestigious domestic competitions, and this year's edition holds added importance for the top clubs as they look to salvage their season or add to their trophy cabinet, especially after Real Madrid's elimination, which has opened the door wide for other contenders to vie for the title. The quarter-final matches are crucial, as there is no room for error in this knockout format.
The matches of this round are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, corresponding to February 3, 4 and 5, amid great public anticipation to find out the members of the semi-finals.
The complete quarter-final schedule:
- Albacete vs Barcelona
- Deportivo Alavés vs. Real Sociedad
- Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao
- Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid
