The Spanish football authorities have released the first-round pairings in the Copa del Rey. Remember that the first three rounds are one-legged affairs (it only gets two-legged later to minimize the chances the big two won't get to the final). Villarreal will play Ponferradina at El Madrigal on September 12; the time hasn't been set yet. (Intriguingly, this match will take place just after the two teams meet in Bierzo, on or about September 9).
And Villarreal will again host a match for the Trofeo de la Ceramica; this year will be the 13th staging of this match.
Levante
will take on Villarreal on Saturday, August 11 at 19:45 Spanish time (2:45pm EDT in the US). No idea if there will be a stream or not, but probably....not.
So you may have to settle for the
picture on the official website,
which shows
Marcos Senna
posing with this year's trophy, another absurdist creation by the local artist Ripolles. I like the handles on the figure's head, like a
caldero
(the pan you make paella in). Should brighten up someone's trophy case.
Returning to football now, the league has released the matchups and ...
