The new season of the national cup has officially begun in Spain, marking the 122nd edition of the tournament in 2025. This year, the first round features 112 teams, including both representatives of regional leagues and clubs from the top division. Four giants—Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Athletic from Bilbao—will join the competition only from the round of 32, as they are participating in the country’s Supercup.
This season, organizers have introduced a fundamentally new approach to forming the matchups. Teams are now divided into four large geographic zones, helping to minimize long trips and reduce the financial burden on smaller clubs. This decision was made by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to support lower-league participants.
The opening round of the tournament consists of just one match per pairing, which traditionally adds intrigue and gives lesser-known teams a chance to shine against the favorites. This year’s draw was held along territorial lines, noticeably changing the usual lineup of opening fixtures.
In the northern region of the country, the first group includes pairings such as Getxo vs Alavés, Negreira vs Real Sociedad, Puerto de Vega vs Celta, and Ourense vs Oviedo. This section will also see Club Portugalete face Valladolid, SD Logroñés take on Racing Santander, and Numancia play Arenas Club.
The second zone covers the eastern and island regions. Here, Athletic Sant Just will play against Mallorca, Sant Jordi will face Osasuna, and Athletic Lleida will take on Espanyol. In the same group, Constancia will host Girona, while Mutilvera faces Zaragoza.
In the third group, which includes the south and central regions, Los Garres will play Elche, Atletico Palma del Rio will meet Betis, Marcena faces Valencia, and Toledo takes on Sevilla. Other pairings include Orihuela against Levante, Ciudad de Lucena versus Villarreal, and Real Murcia facing Antequera.
The fourth zone includes the capital region and the west of the country. Here, Inter Valdemoro will play Getafe, Yuncos will face Rayo Vallecano, Asuaga meets Leganes, and UD San Fernando will take on Albacete. Also in this group, CD Extremadura will play Las Palmas, while Rayo Majadahonda faces Talavera.
A total of 56 matches are scheduled in the first stage, which will take place over three days from October 28 to 30. For many small clubs, this is a chance to make a name for themselves nationwide, and for fans, it’s an opportunity to witness unexpected results and discover new talents.
