Girona is preparing for its first Copa del Rey match against CD Cuarte, a Tercera RFEF club that will celebrate its second participation in the competition. The visit takes place at a time of prosperity for the Catalan team, which has achieved two consecutive victories in the Second Division and a 5-1 win over Celta de Vigo, which places it in fourth position with 21 points. The objective of Quique Álvarez's team is to maintain the good streak and avoid surprises in a match that, although of a lower category, represents an important challenge.
Coach Quique Álvarez has announced that the match will be an opportunity to rotate the squad and give minutes to less used players, in addition to including several youth players in the squad. “The squad is increasingly competitive and it is difficult to reward everyone for their daily work,” commented the coach, underlining the need to expand the role within the locker room. Among the new features are the absences of Moomin, who is suffering from a gastroenterological process, and Asprilla, injured in his right ankle. Also added to the list of casualties are Gazzaniga, David López and Vanat, whom the coach has decided to rest after the demands of the last matches. The recovery of Stuani, who appeared again in the victory against Celta, expands the team's offensive options, while players like Abel Ruiz, Pyshchur or Van de Beek could benefit from the rotation.
The Cuarte de Huerva, for its part, faces a historic occasion. The Zaragoza club, which is fighting to be promoted to the Second RFEF, will celebrate its second participation in the Copa del Rey and will have the opportunity to host a rival that only two seasons ago competed in the Champions League. The match will be played at the Municipal de Cuarte de Huerva, where the locals will try to take advantage of the terrain factor and the enthusiasm of their fans to balance the obvious difference in category. The single-leg tie offers a chance for the modestly ranked team to pull off a memorable upset.
Girona starts as favorites, but the experience of the competition shows that sporting differences are not always reflected on the scoreboard when less favored teams find the opportunity to experience an extraordinary day. The match promises a special atmosphere for both Cuarte fans and Girona fans, who seek to advance to the next round, distribute minutes and confirm that their growth can be sustained beyond the local level. With the Cup changing the context, the requirement remains: both teams must respond with concentration and seriousness to achieve their objectives.