Four Spanish giants begin their Copa del Rey campaign later than the rest, receiving a pass through the opening rounds and kicking off in the round of 32. This structure allows these clubs to ease into the knockout phase with a single, high-stakes entry point while their peers tackle the early fixtures. In the 2023-2024 edition, the competition unfolded with an October start for the initial round, when 16 of the 20 La Liga clubs fulfilled their commitments. The exception was the quartet of heavyweight teams—Real Madrid, Barcelona, Osasuna, and Atlético de Madrid—who would not enter until January 2024, joining at the round of 32 rather than the early matches.
Why Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and Osasuna skip the first two rounds of the Copa del Rey 2023-2024
Since 2019, Copa del Rey restructuring and the Spain Super Cup format have evolved together. The cup now mirrors a Final Four arrangement, featuring semi-finals and a final. Under this system, the Copa del Rey champion faces the La Liga runner-up, while the La Liga champion meets the runner-up from the knockout tournament. The switch creates a concise, high-stakes schedule that culminates in a decisive title match without dragging the competition into an extended calendar.
The four clubs invited to the Super Cup enjoy a special exemption. They bypass the first two qualifying rounds of the upcoming season’s Copa del Rey to relieve congestion and reward the finalists who earned a spot in Spain’s premier domestic trophy competition in January. Those January matches present a fresh chance to secure advancement into the later stages, while allowing these teams to focus on their league fixtures and other tournaments.
For the 2024 Super Cup, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid were set to meet in the semi-finals, with Real Madrid holding the Copa del Rey title and Atlético positioned as the league runner-up. Barcelona, having claimed the league crown, was paired with Osasuna, who had finished high in the cup standings in 2022-2023. This lineup underscores a balance between league performance and domestic cup success, and clarifies why these clubs begin their Copa del Rey campaign in the round of 32 rather than in the early rounds.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) explains that the scheduling circle is designed to relieve the top contenders from a congested calendar. Consequently, all four clubs will start in January, entering at the round of 32 with the possibility of a draw against a lower-division opponent from Primera RFEF through the pairing process. The decision aims to preserve competitiveness for the field while maintaining the integrity of the competition.
In its circular about the initial round, the federation noted that 55 qualifying matches would take place, with 110 teams from the 115 participants paired for the first phase. The exception is Amorebieta, the first federation champion, who is exempt from the opening round and joins the competition in the second phase. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, and CA Osasuna would also be exempt from the first two rounds due to their status as participants in the 2024 Spanish Super Cup, enabling them to begin their Copa del Rey journey in the round of 32. This approach keeps the tournament vibrant and competitive for the majority of clubs while preserving the prestige and practical scheduling for Spain’s most successful teams.
All told, the structure strikes a balance between a demanding calendar and the enduring appeal of Spain’s oldest club competition. For fans, January becomes a milestone when the big clubs re-enter action. For the rest of the participants, it ensures meaningful matches that lead into the new year, sustaining momentum and excitement across Spain’s football landscape. The overarching aim is to preserve competitiveness across the field while honoring the tournament’s storied history.
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