GRANADA, SPAIN – Granada CF and Rayo Vallecano meet tonight at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes in a high-stakes Copa del Rey Round of 32 showdown, as both Spanish second-division sides battle for a place among the final 16 in a tournament that has already seen a surge of lower-league success stories. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. local time (18:00 UTC).
The matchup carries extra intrigue given the history between the two clubs. Rayo Vallecano has dominated recent meetings, going unbeaten in their last 11 encounters with Granada (nine wins, two draws), and enters the fixture with a psychological edge despite both teams now competing outside the top flight. Granada, meanwhile, will be eager to reverse that trend and capitalize on home support to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in three seasons.
Rayo, led by their disciplined defensive structure and fast transitions, will need to adapt after losing key midfielder Unai López to injury and forward Sergio Camello to suspension. Even with those absences, the Madrid-based club has proven resilient in knockout competitions and has made a habit of frustrating opponents with their organized approach.
Granada will look to exploit home-field advantage and control possession through quick ball movement and pressing in the midfield, aiming to break Rayo’s streak of dominance in the fixture. A victory would mark a symbolic breakthrough for the Andalusian club, which has struggled in head-to-head matchups but has shown renewed form in cup play.
With second-division teams already making an unprecedented impact in this year’s Copa del Rey, tonight’s match represents another chance for one of Spain’s traditional underdogs to move closer to the quarterfinal stage.
Granada and Rayo Vallecano face off tonight in the Copa del Rey Round of 32, with Rayo seeking to extend an 11-match unbeaten streak against Granada and both teams fighting to join the growing list of second-division clubs in the Round of 16.