Granada Face Uphill Copa del Rey Test as Rayo Vallecano Come to Town
All eyes will be on the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes on Tuesday evening as Granada welcome Rayo Vallecano in the final Copa del Rey round-of-32 match, a tie that arrives with plenty of context, pressure, and contrasting priorities for both sides. Originally scheduled for December, this game had to be pushed back because of Rayo’s involvement in European competition, and now it feels like a late-night cup story waiting to unfold.
Granada come into this match hoping to reach the last 16 of the Copa del Rey for the first time since their quarter-final run in the 2020–21 season. Their cup journey so far has been respectable. A dominant 5-1 win over Roda got things started, and that was followed by a narrow but important 1-0 victory against Tenerife. However, momentum has been hard to sustain. Since that Tenerife win, four games have passed without another victory, and confidence took another hit with a dramatic 3-2 loss away to Almería at the weekend.
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In the league, the situation is far more worrying. With just 21 points from 20 matches, Granada find themselves stuck in the bottom four, only a single point away from safety. Survival is clearly the main objective for Pacheta and his squad, but this cup tie is being viewed as a potential confidence booster. Home form offers some encouragement, with Granada winning two and drawing five of their last seven matches at Los Cármenes. Still, history is not on their side, as they have not beaten Rayo Vallecano since a 2-0 away win back in December 2013.
Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, arrive juggling multiple competitions. This season has marked their first European campaign since 2000–01, and that adventure has gone impressively well. A comfortable 3-0 win over Drita before Christmas secured sixth place in their Conference League group and a direct spot in the last 16. In the Copa del Rey, they crushed CD Yuncos 6-1, then survived a huge scare against fourth-tier Real Ávila, thanks to a dramatic late equaliser from Isi Palazón and an extra-time winner by Álvaro García.
Despite those cup and European highs, league form has been a concern. Rayo are currently winless in eight league matches and sit 14th, only three points above the relegation zone, after a late Getafe equaliser denied them victory on Friday. Even so, this competition represents a genuine opportunity. Having won nine of their last 11 meetings with Granada, Rayo will feel confident about progressing and keeping alive their dream of winning the Copa del Rey for the first time.
With Granada under pressure and Rayo carrying the edge of top-flight quality, this clash feels finely balanced but tilted slightly in the visitors’ favour. A tight contest is expected, yet Rayo’s experience and strong head-to-head record suggest they may just have enough to edge it.
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