Málaga CF now know their opponent for the first round of the Copa del Rey. Monday's draw paired them with Sporting de Alcázar CF, a team from the Primera Autonómica Preferente of Castilla La Mancha. The tie will be a single match played at the Manuel Delgado Meco stadium in Alcázar de San Juan in late October. Juanfran Funes's side are considered favourites due to their higher league status, though they arrive at this fixture during a difficult period in their league season.
Opponent background
Sporting de Alcázar qualified for this round by defeating CP Talayuela on aggregate. As the lower-ranked team, they will have home advantage. Due to geographical proximity rules, Málaga avoided a draw against any Andalusian rival and will instead travel to the province of Ciudad Real.
A cup opportunity
This match marks Málaga CF's return to the Copa del Rey after not participating last season. It comes at a difficult time for the team, who are at the bottom of La Liga with very few points, no wins, and a very low scoring rate in recent league matches. Their next league fixture is at home to Espanyol, a key match to try and change their momentum. The Copa del Rey therefore presents a chance to rebuild morale and offer minutes to squad players, seeking a boost before resuming their fight to avoid relegation.
In this edition of the Copa del Rey, many clubs are involved, although some teams, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, are exempt from this round and will enter later. Málaga CF face the match against Sporting de Alcázar with the need to progress and find a positive spark. The Andalusian side have not won an official match in over a month, making this fixture against a regional-level opponent an important test to prove they can improve their course.
Background and full detail: Mundo Deportivo
