Athletic Club learns today at 1:00 pm its first Copa del Rey opponent

Athletic Club's Copa del Rey campaign begins this Monday. At 1:00 pm the draw for the opening round takes place, with 112 teams entering the pot to form 56 ties and define the first hurdle for the Basque side in the knockout competition. Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Atletico, all involved in the Spanish Super Cup, are exempt from the first two rounds.

• The first-round Copa del Rey draw is held today at 1:00 pm.
• 112 clubs enter the pot to set up 56 ties.
• Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Atletico sit out the first two rounds due to the Super Cup.
• Athletic has four possible opponents, including a regional derby against Sestao River.
• The tie is scheduled for the last week of October, with Thursday 29 as the likely date for Athletic.

How the Copa del Rey first round draw works

The draw groups participating teams by geographical proximity and, whenever possible, pairs lower-division clubs against higher-division sides. That setup limits travel and protects the classic charm of the Copa: small clubs hosting giants in tight, packed grounds. For Athletic, that filtering leaves only a short list of potential opponents.

The four possible Copa del Rey opponents for Athletic Club

The list of candidates to face Terzic's squad has been reduced to four names. The most eye-catching is Sestao River, who booked their place after reaching the Copa Federacion semifinals. If that ball comes out, Athletic would return to Las Llanas for the third time in a few years: a 4-0 away win in January 2020 under Gaizka Garitano and a tighter 1-0 victory in December 2022 with Ernesto Valverde in charge.

The remaining three options arrive from regional divisions. Anaitasuna, from Azkoitia, thrashed Tedeon 5-0 in the first leg and won 5-2 away in the return to set up another possible Basque derby. Atletico Calatayud complete the group after knocking out Baztan 2-0 and 2-1. One tie is still open: Prat against San Rafael was not completed because the Balearic side could not travel due to weather conditions, though the matchup looks all but decided after the Catalan club's 5-1 away win in the first leg.

When is the Copa del Rey first round played

First-round matches will be played during the final week of October. For Athletic, the most likely date is Thursday 29, following the usual pattern for clubs involved in European competition during that calendar window.

Other Biscay clubs in the Copa del Rey draw

Athletic will not be the only Biscay side in the hat. Sestao River is guaranteed a tie against a La Liga club: if not Athletic, it will be Osasuna, Alaves or Espanyol. Barakaldo will open away against a Segunda RFEF side. Amorebieta and Portugalete have a slim chance of hosting a Segunda club, with Girona, Eibar, Andorra or Sabadell as possible visitors, although a matchup against a Primera RFEF team is far more likely.

What is at stake for Athletic in the first round

The Copa del Rey carries special weight for Athletic Club, winners of the trophy 24 times and second in the all-time list behind only Barcelona. After lifting the title in 2024, the Basque outfit returns as defending champion and aims to build another deep run in a competition that has delivered huge nights at San Mames in recent seasons. Opening against a lower-tier opponent is never a formality: smaller grounds level the playing field through atmosphere and tight dimensions.

Athletic Club enters the first-round draw with four possible opponents, including Sestao River in a regional derby played twice in the last five years.