Barcelona & Real Madrid learn Copa del Rey round of 16 opponents

Barcelona will be up against Real Betis, while Real Madrid take on Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey round of 16 next week.

The Spanish giants navigated third-round ties against fourth-tier opponents without much fuss last weekend. Barcelona strolled to a 4-0 win over Barbastro, with the only sticking point the omission of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor during their prolonged contract standoff. Even the defeated hosts had something to cheer about, as Israel Garcia proposed to his girlfriend after the fixture.

Real Madrid were just as comfortable in a 5-0 thrashing of Deportiva Minera, as Carlo Ancelotti shuffled his pack ahead of a busy festive fixture list.

Atletico Madrid only narrowly scraped past Marbella in the previous round and are up against another lower league opponent in the form of Elche next week.

Full 2024/25 Copa del Rey round of 16 fixtures

• Pontevedra vs Getafe
• Ourense vs Valencia
• Almeria vs Leganes
• Elche vs Atletico Madrid
• Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo
• Barcelona vs Real Betis
• Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano
• Athletic Club vs Osasuna

When are the 2024/25 Copa del Rey round of 16 ties?

The powers that be at the Spanish football federation have not afforded their teams much time for preparation. Some clubs will have less than a week to research their opponents before the round of 16 ties which are scheduled for 14, 15 and 16 January next week.

Barcelona and Real Madrid could both be involved in the Spanish Supercopa final which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, 12 January. The Clasico duo are already in the Middle East for semi-final ties against Athletic Club and Mallorca respectively.

As with all Copa del Rey ties before the semi-finals, matches will be played over a single leg. In a new development, VAR will be in operation.

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