Modest Portugalete draw holders Valencia in King’s Cup
Oct 10, 10:48 am EDT
Buzz Up PrintMADRID, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Portugalete of the Spanish Tercera division (fourth tier) were pitched against holders and Primera Liga leaders Valencia in the draw for the last 32 of the King’s Cup on Friday.
The modest Basque club, from just outside Bilbao, have home advantage for the first leg on Oct. 29 and are the lowest ranked side left in the competition.
They face Unai Emery’s early Primera Liga pacesetters, who are unbeaten in their opening six league matches. Last season, under Ronald Koeman, Valencia beat Getafe 3-1 in the final to claim their seventh King’s Cup crown.
“At home we will battle away, try not to concede a goal, and work hard in defence. Beyond that, we have no alternative but to try and enjoy ourselves and see if we can nick some of their shirts,” Portugalete player Iker Arzubiaga told Radio Popular.
“I don’t think for a moment we have a chance of progressing. If it was a one-off game we could cause an upset winning at home, but later to go to the Mestalla will be tough.”
The arrival of the top-flight clubs in the tournament also saw Segunda B (third tier) sides Real Union and Benidorm drawn with champions Real Madrid and 24-times cup winners Barcelona respectively.
There are four all-Primera Liga ties that include Getafe, runners-up over the last two years, playing Osasuna and 23-times winners Athletic Bilbao facing 2003 finalists Recreativo Huelva.
The first legs are scheduled to be played on Oct. 29 with the return matches on Nov. 12. (Writing by Mark Elkington, editing by Rex Gowar)
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