When a group of soccer players dressed in black and white erupted in joy in Salamanca, Spain, just after the New Year, they felt like they had won the greatest lottery on earth.
Instead, they were watching the draw for the last 16 of the Copa del Rey in a small room with local reporters and clunky black laptops. Barcelona, who are 52nd above the country in the country’s soccer pyramid, were to play against the Unionistas. The reward for a heroic penalty shootout victory over Villarreal.
Naturally, it is unlikely that a Unionista from a traditional university city will win a cup in Spain. Still, anything will be possible if Xavi’s accusations can be defeated, and club president Roberto Pescador has already warned that it will be a difficult road ahead for the La Liga stalwarts, whose team boasts prize money, accolades and technical prowess. is promised. He might be too. Barcelona and Real Madrid have yet to overcome fourth-tier opponents to get there, while winning machines Girona almost stumbled at the first hurdle. The next stage begins on his January 16th.
Fight the odds and fight for your dollars
For some it was smooth sailing, for others it was perplexing. Real Betis, Getafe and Alavés scored in double figures in their opening games, scoring 12, 12 and 10 goals respectively as they defeated disappointing minnows Hernán Cortés, Tardienta and Deportivo Murcia in their backyard. The weaker regional teams in the 6th and 7th categories had to find bigger stadiums to host better guests. It costs more than 300,000 euros (approximately 33 million yen) to own a suitable stadium every season, even for Unionistas two leagues above. The floodlight also failed against Villarreal.
Each scenario touches on the beauty and ugliness of Copa. While the best teams struggle on difficult fields in front of their home fans, other teams thrash opponents far apart in terms of quality. Unlike the English FA Cup, the oldest soccer competition in which Premier League teams take part from the third round, Spain’s elite will once the match begins with a cluster of much poorer regional teams near the broad base of the soccer pyramid. You can meet.
If you dig deeper into money, it becomes clear. La Liga’s best players earn millions of dollars each season. Meanwhile, salaries for lower-tier teams are in the thousands of dollars, and some teams in the Copa are below professional standards. The last time the Unionistas hosted Real in 2020, their star players reportedly earned an average annual salary of 24,000 euros ($26,000), second only to Gareth Bale, Isco and the visiting Galactico. It was standard. If the dollar reveals everything, it will be virtually impossible to knock out the giant.
It’s definitely a prize. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which runs the show, has devised a draw so that the weakest teams play the strongest teams in the early rounds. On the other hand, these macabre missions, held in lower-league stadiums, greatly strengthen the finances of the underdog, with ticket sales to watch domestic stars sometimes adding up to a modest club’s entire season’s revenue. Sometimes they bring in about the same amount. If a name like Unionista does the unthinkable of excluding Barcelona, money and brand recognition will increase.
Madrid, Barcelona and the Copa MagicMAGIC
Numancia, currently in third place in the fourth division, made a remarkable breakthrough to the quarter-finals in 1996, helping them gain promotion to La Liga, which was impossible before 2000. This year’s fairy tale belongs to Uniónista, or maybe Tenerife, who could beat Mallorca in 2019. Last 8 times. They are aiming to join rival island team Las Palmas in reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 1994, when they defeated Real 3-0 in Madrid. The Tenerife manager has a proud record. As a player, Asiel Garitano defeated Valencia in Alicante, and then as head coach he led an under-achieving Leganes team past Los Blancos.
“I’ve always loved this sport,” Garitano said. El Dia It was relayed. “If I have to work hard, I will work hard with a smile on my face. And I think the team is ready for all of this,” he added, commenting on the midweek schedule of games.
Throughout its history, Madrid FC, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and even further back Athletic Club have been dominant in the Copa, somewhat undermining the anyone-can-win tag. But wins over Valencia, Real Sociedad and Real Betis over the past five years, as well as Osasuna’s run to the final last season, have reignited its appeal. The romance is all the more welcome given the sport’s move toward more special shows, like FIFA’s renewed Club World Cup and the money-making Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. .
After a thrilling encounter in the Super Cup, Real and Atlético’s next encounter will be back at home in Spain’s oldest football tournament. Those two legs may not even produce half the goals in Real’s 5-3 thrashing in the Middle East. But the Copa’s enduring appeal, with David as much as Goliath, means there are few better occasions than the real Madrid derby, and the next chapter of the most fascinating event to date begins. Masu.
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