The 2019 competition changes and the double-leg path to the Copa del Rey semi finals
The approved format from 2019 sets the stage for the penultimate round to be played over two legs, with the order of the home and away matches determined by a random draw. This adjustment adds a layer of unpredictability and balance, ensuring a fair contest between the finalists from the quarter finals.
The 2022-2023 Copa del Rey has moved into its decisive phase, with the semi finals approaching rapidly. After the quarterfinals conclude on a Thursday, there will be clarity about the teams that earn a place in the step before the final.
Fans seeking to follow the 2023 Copa del Rey semi final draw live online will want to know the TV channels and streaming options available. The semi finals represent a shift in format, as this stage features the top four teams in the league and now uses a double-match structure rather than a single game for the ties that decide the semi finalists.
Keep an eye on the rivalry between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid as it unfolds in the Copa path for 2022-2023. The semi final picture will come into focus as the draw, originally scheduled for Monday, January 30, determines the four contenders who will fight for a spot in the final.
Osasuna and Barcelona have already secured their places in the semi finals, while Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club and Valencia CF remain in contention for the remaining two semi final spots.
Why the 2022-2023 Copa del Rey semi finals use two legs instead of a single match
Since the 2019-2020 season, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has revised the competition format. A large field of teams enters the Cup, with 112 clubs starting in the first round. From the qualifiers through the quarter finals, many ties are decided in a single match on neutral terms or home venues as determined by the draw. However, in the semi finals, the ties are played over two legs, with home and away legs shaping the clash.
The RFEF explains that the semi finals are played, in a double match, by the teams that reach this stage after winning the quarter finals. Their pairing is determined purely by the draw, including the assignment of home venues, provided all minimum requirements are met. The two finalists are guaranteed a place in the Spanish Super Cup tournament.
Specific provisions for two-legged ties are outlined as follows:
- The team with the larger aggregate goal difference after regulation time in both legs is declared the winner. This counts goals scored and conceded across the two matches.
- If the goal difference is equal, the tiebreaker is the higher number of away goals scored in the opponent’s venue.
- If the tie remains level after away goals, an extra period of 30 minutes is added, split into two 15-minute halves. The away goals rule remains in effect for this extra time.
- Should the score still be level after extra time, each side takes five penalty kicks, alternating, to determine the winner. The team that converts more penalties out of five is declared the victor.
- If the teams continue to be deadlocked after penalties, the process goes to sustained penalties until one side gains a clear advantage in total scores.
Source attribution: Goal