The day of the first round of the Copa del Rey, which was held on Thursday, October 29, took place in two emblematic stadiums: Los Pajaritos and the San Francisco Stadium. In both matches, the teams faced each other in round-trip matches, with the possibility of advancing to the next phase or being eliminated after a single match.
At the San Francisco Stadium, Peña Sport and Huesca met in a duel that remained balanced until the 15th minute, when the Huesca team managed to take the lead thanks to a goal from Marc Aznar. Aznar, with a move of great skill, collected the ball on the balcony of the area, shot with precision and beat the defenders to score. The goal gave Huesca a 1-0 lead, but Peña Sport did not give up and, after several opportunities, managed to tie the game. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, forcing both teams to play a second match to decide who would advance.
At Los Pajaritos, the match between Numancia and Real Oviedo remained goalless for most of the time. Both teams showed a defensive game and without great scoring opportunities. The match ended 0-0, which meant that the result would be decided in the second match. Despite the lack of goals, the fans enjoyed a tense and well-contested match, with several plays that kept the public in suspense.
The results of these matches were part of a day in which 18 matches were played in the first round of the Copa del Rey. Among the teams that managed to advance were Girona, Sestao River, Europa, Elche, Almería, Ponferradina, Mirandés, Cultural Leonesa, Las Palmas, Rayo Majadahonda, Sant Andreu, Extremadura, Arosa, Real Zaragoza, Málaga, Villarreal, Rayo Vallecano and Atlético Paso. The competition has remained in a single-match format until the quarter-finals, with the semi-finals being played over two legs.
The suspense of the day was interrupted by the train tragedy in Toledo, which caused the suspension of several matches. However, the competition resumed with a bang, and teams that were unable to play on Wednesday 28 October now have the opportunity to advance or be eliminated at this early stage of the tournament.
With the results of the first round, the teams that won are already preparing for the second phase, while those that lost will have to reflect on their strategies for future competitions. The Copa del Rey continues to be a stage where teams of all categories can demonstrate their quality and compete for a national title.