Valencia will visit Spanish fourth-tier team UD Logrones in the Copa del Rey. Los Che, who are in the top half of La Liga, have had a more promising season and will want to prevent a huge giant-killing in their cup opener.
Preview (UD Logrones vs. Valencia)
Despite their well-publicized recent problems, the eight-time Copa del Rey winners have had remarkable success in this competition. Valencia was a finalist in 2022 and lost heartbreakingly to Real Betis on penalties. Their most recent title in 2019 by defeating Barcelona in the championship match. Valencia has advanced past the fifth round every season since 2004, whereas their forthcoming lower-league rivals have never done so. Valencia lost to a team outside of La Liga when they were eliminated by UE Lleida over twenty years ago.
After a season-long flirtation with relegation, they have had a solid start to the La Liga campaign under former player Ruben Baraja, which should provide them even more confidence going into this match. Valencia, who had accumulated 15 points from their first 11 games. They are currently unbeaten in three games and were unlucky not to win back-to-back this past weekend. At San Mames, the score ended 2-2 after Athletic Bilbao’s goal in the 97th minute denied Baraja’s team three points. That outcome followed a convincing victory over Cadiz at home and a respectable draw against Real Mallorca away. However, they will encounter some challenging road tests in the upcoming weeks.
This is also where Logrones’ Copa trip begins, and despite their lowly status, the recently demoted team has a history. The La Rioja team has advanced to the fourth round of the cup twice in 2010–11 and 2015–16. In 2010–11 and 2019–20, when Los Che was the holder, Valencia emerged victorious and once more caused havoc in Logrones. Thanks to an early Maxi Gomez goal in their most recent match, Valencia only narrowly prevailed 1-0. Real Sociedad’s sole victory over them came in the previous season. Nearly 13 years have passed since Logrones famously led their two-leg fourth-round tie at Mestalla.
Team News
Logrones’ lone anticipated absence for this matchup is center defender Andoni Ugarte, who is sidelined due to injury. The team’s senior, 35-year-old captain Inaki Saenz, should lead the team out and continue to play great defense, but last weekend, his attacking prowess was on full display as he scored their second goal in the victory over Arenas Club. The focus of the game plan will be defense, but the guys Logrones will look to for an attacking threat on the break are their namesakes, Jon Madrazo and Jimmy.
Hugo Duro, a striker for Valencia, had a shoulder injury during their Saturday draw against San Mames. He may not return until the New Year, which would be a significant loss. Duro will now be added to the growing list of players out injured, along with Mouctar Diakhaby and prominent young midfielder Andre Almeida, who both anticipate making a quick recovery. With a knee injury, Cenk Ozcakar was unable to travel to the Basque Country, and Jesus Vazquez was iffy for this game because it arrived too soon.
Roman Yaremchuk is expected to start in place of the injured Duro due to Baraja’s probable rotation, and Segi Canos and Dimitri Foulquier—two players currently making their comeback from injury layoffs—may also get the start. Hugo Guillamon, Hugo Gonzalez, and Pablo Gozalbez may have the chance to start after making recent substitute appearances, and Baraja may also view it as an opportunity to break some of the younger players into the team.
UD Logrones 0-3 Valencia
For more football previews, click here
