Athletic, Sevilla, Osasuna, Getafe, Deportivo and Racing begin Copa del Rey campaigns today

The first round of the Copa del Rey returns to action on Thursday with six La Liga clubs entering the tournament. Athletic Club, Sevilla, Osasuna, Getafe, Deportivo de La Coruña and Racing de Santander all begin their cup campaigns away from home, on a matchday shaped by the suspension of Wednesday's fixtures following the serious railway accident in Toledo.

• Six top-flight clubs make their Copa del Rey debuts during Thursday's schedule.
• Every La Liga representative plays away from home in this opening round.
• The competition was suspended on Wednesday due to the Toledo railway accident and resumes today.
• Nine postponed matches from Wednesday are relocated into this evening's programme.
• The remaining ties that could not be played will be resolved in November.

Copa del Rey returns after Wednesday's suspension

Spanish football resumes cup competition after a day in which the game took a back seat. The federation suspended all fixtures scheduled for Wednesday as a mark of respect for the victims of the Toledo railway accident and their families. With that memory still present, the first round continues with a double agenda: the matches already set for Thursday and the relocation of nine ties that could not be played the previous day.

Osasuna and Getafe open the La Liga involvement

The first representatives of the top flight to take the pitch will be Osasuna and Getafe, both at 19:00. The Navarrese side visits Atlético Calatayud, while the Madrid club travels to face UB Lebrijana. In both cases, the gap in squad quality places the demand on the visiting team, but it also gives the hosts the chance to play a knockout tie without carrying the weight of being favourites.

Favourites do not always settle single-leg ties

The early rounds of the Copa del Rey hold a delicate balance for higher-division clubs. The favourite needs the scoreline to confirm expectations quickly, while the modest home side looks to keep the match alive for as long as possible. Every contested ball offers a small opportunity to level the contest, and each unresolved stretch increases the confidence of the local team, aware that it has far more to gain than it could have imagined when the draw was made.

Athletic and Sevilla bring cup pedigree to the 21:00 kick-offs

At 21:00, Athletic Club and Sevilla enter the competition. The Bilbao side visits Prat, while the Andalusian club travels to Madrid to face Sporting de Hortaleza. Both clubs hold a prominent place in the history of the tournament, although that record does not settle a single-leg tie on its own. The home sides will look to make the fixture their own night, knowing they are hosting higher-tier opponents with the intention of extending their run in the competition.

Deportivo and Racing Santander continue northern representation

In the same time slot, Deportivo de La Coruña and Racing Santander make their debuts. The Galician team visits Auriense, while the Cantabrian outfit travels to Ribadesella to face the local side. For the visitors, progression is the immediate demand placed upon them. For their hosts, the match represents the chance to make the most of the spotlight and to keep their name in the conversation when the night ends, regardless of the final score.

Nine postponed ties rescheduled for Thursday

Alongside the six debuts by La Liga clubs, the matchday recovers nine of the fixtures that could not take place on Wednesday. Peña Sport hosts Huesca and Numancia welcomes Oviedo at 18:00. An hour later, Poblense-Ceuta and Coruxo-Zamora kick off, while Cieza-Granada is scheduled for 19:30. These are the early turns of an afternoon in which other sides will also be looking to extend an adventure that was left on hold.

At 20:00, Covadonga-Valladolid and Mijas-Las Lagunas-Real Jaén get underway. Gimnástica de Torrelavega-UD Ourense starts at 20:30, and Xerez-Cádiz closes the programme at 21:00. The remaining postponed fixtures will have to wait until November to be settled.

The Copa del Rey returns with a revised calendar and the same requirement for every participant: any plan for the future begins with winning the tie in front of them today. The draw for the next round comes later, but those competing on Thursday know that progression depends on resolving their away trip first.

Frequently asked questions about the Copa del Rey first round