Real Betis Copa del Rey draw: possible opponents and first-round date

Real Betis approach the Copa del Rey first-round draw with the map already clear. The RFEF announced on Thursday the distribution of the 112 participating teams into four geographic groups, and the Seville club has landed in Group 4 alongside Andalusian, Extremaduran and Canarian sides. The draw takes place on Monday 5 October at 13:00 and will produce a single-leg tie that, at the very least, sends Betis on the road.

• Betis are in Group 4 of the Copa del Rey draw, together with teams from Andalusia, Extremadura and the Canary Islands.
• Their four possible opponents are Navalcarnero, Recreativo de Huelva and the winners of two preliminary ties.
• The tie will be single-legged at the lower-division team's ground on 27, 28 or 29 October.
• Atlético Unión Güímar, from Tenerife, can still overturn their preliminary tie and become Betis' opponent.
• The preliminary tie between UB Lebrijana and Ceuta 6 de Junio is almost decided after a 5-0 first leg.

Betis' four possible first-round opponents in the Copa del Rey

Monday's draw will pair Betis with one of four teams: CDA Navalcarnero, RC Recreativo de Huelva, the winner of Sporting Hortaleza versus Atlético Unión Güímar, or the winner of UB Lebrijana versus Ceuta 6 de Junio. Navalcarnero and Recreativo arrive directly from the Copa Federación, while the other two spots will be decided in the preliminary ties resolved this weekend. In every case, Betis will play away from home, because the competition rewards the lower-division club by granting it home advantage.

Sporting Hortaleza vs Atlético Unión Güímar: the Tenerife route

The most intriguing tie for Betis supporters is the one that could send Manuel Pellegrini's team to Tenerife. Sporting Hortaleza won the first leg 1-0 on 27 September, a narrow result that leaves everything open for the return match. Atlético Unión Güímar, the Canarian side, must overturn the deficit this Sunday 4 October at their El Tasagaya ground. If they manage it, their name goes into the hat and Betis could end up making their cup debut in the Canary Islands.

UB Lebrijana close in on qualification after heavy first-leg win

The other preliminary tie is far more settled. UB Lebrijana thrashed Ceuta 6 de Junio 5-0 in the first leg, with Miguel Santos scoring a first-half hat-trick. The second leg is played this Saturday 3 October in Ceuta, but the five-goal cushion makes a comeback almost impossible. Everything points to Lebrijana being one of the four names Betis will see in Monday's draw.

Copa del Rey Group 4: which teams join Betis

Group 4 brings together clubs from La Liga, Segunda, Primera RFEF, Segunda RFEF, Tercera RFEF, Copa Federación and the preliminary ties. The RFEF has arranged them so that lower-division clubs face higher-division opponents, a formula designed to reduce travel and balance the pairings. Betis share the group with Sevilla FC, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano in the top flight, and with Las Palmas, Córdoba, Leganés, Cádiz and Tenerife in the second tier, among others.

The list also includes Extremadura, Rayo Majadahonda and Coria in Primera RFEF; Xerez CD, San Sebastián de los Reyes, RSD Alcalá, Ciudad de Lucena, Atlético Paso, Don Benito and Badajoz in Segunda RFEF; Trival Valderas Alcorcón in Tercera RFEF; and Navalcarnero and Recreativo de Huelva as Copa Federación representatives.

What is at stake for Betis in their October cup opener

The Copa del Rey keeps the single-leg knockout format that has produced so much drama in recent seasons. For Betis, the late-October cup opener is the first chance to compete in a tournament where excitement builds quickly, but it is also a classic trap: any lapse against a lower-division opponent, on the road and with no margin for error, means immediate elimination. The Seville side will have to justify their favourite tag in a tie decided over ninety minutes, plus extra time and penalties if needed.

First-round schedule and format

The entire first round will be packed into 27, 28 and 29 October. The lower-division team will host the match as long as its stadium meets the RFEF requirements, which for Betis means travelling to Navalcarnero, Huelva, Lebrija, Ceuta, Madrid or Tenerife. The exact date of the game will be confirmed after the draw, once television schedules and club requests are coordinated.

Where the preliminary ties stand ahead of the draw

Sporting Hortaleza vs Atlético Unión Güímar

The 1-0 first-leg win for the Madrid side is a deceptive scoreline. Güímar need just one goal to level the tie and force at least extra time. Playing at El Tasagaya in front of their own fans is the main argument for a team dreaming of a meeting with a top-flight club in the next round.

UB Lebrijana vs Ceuta 6 de Junio

The 5-0 first-leg scoreline suggests a tie that is already over. Lebrijana displayed lethal finishing, with Miguel Santos as the standout thanks to his three first-half goals. Ceuta 6 de Junio would need a miracle at home this Saturday to remain alive in the cup.