Barcelona, Real Madrid Avoid Clásico in Copa del Rey Quarterfinal Draw

MADRID, Spain — Barcelona and Real Madrid avoided an early Clásico showdown in the Copa del Rey after being drawn into separate quarterfinal matchups on Monday. The two Spanish giants remain on track to potentially meet in the semifinals or final of the tournament.

Barcelona will travel to face Valencia, while Real Madrid will play away at Leganés. The other quarterfinal pairings include Atlético Madrid hosting Getafe and Real Sociedad taking on Osasuna. All matches will be played the week of Feb. 3, with the winners advancing to a two-legged semifinal.

If both Barcelona and Real Madrid progress, they could face each other in the semifinals, setting up two more Clásicos this season. Additionally, a Madrid derby remains possible if both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid advance to the later stages of the competition.

Valencia, who eliminated holders Real Betis in the previous round, will look to continue their strong form against Barcelona. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will aim to overcome Leganés, a team they have historically dominated in cup competitions.

Atlético Madrid, fresh off a strong La Liga campaign, will face Getafe in a local derby, while Real Sociedad and Osasuna will battle in an all-Basque clash. The tournament’s knockout format ensures high stakes as teams vie for a spot in the final.

The Copa del Rey, Spain’s premier domestic cup competition, has already seen several surprises this season, with lower-division teams causing upsets in earlier rounds. The quarterfinals promise more drama as the remaining teams chase silverware.