Barcelona and Real Madrid Discover Their Copa del Rey Round of 32 Rivals

Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to face third-division opponents in the 2025–26 Copa del Rey round of 32, with the Catalan giants meeting Guadalajara while Los Blancos take on Talavera.

Although La Liga clubs enter the Copa del Rey from the opening round, teams that secured qualification for the Supercopa de España receive automatic advancement through the initial two rounds of the tournament.

Consequently, Real Madrid and defending titleholders Barcelona are making their debut in this year's competition at the current phase, joined by their Supercopa semifinal adversaries, Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club.

Remarkably, these four clubs represent the most decorated sides in Copa del Rey history. Barcelona top the list with 32 championships, well clear of Athletic (24) in the runner-up position. Real Madrid boast 20 victories, while Atlético sit fourth with 10 triumphs.

Barcelona's title defense campaign kicks off with a trip to third-tier club CD Guadalajara—distinct from the Mexican team sharing the same name—at the 6,000-capacity Estadio Pedro Escartín.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will also encounter third-division opposition when they visit CF Talavera. The home team, sitting at the bottom of their league when the draw was conducted, welcomes 5,000 supporters.

When Is the Copa del Rey Round of 32?

Supporters won't need to wait extensively for the action to commence, as the round of 32 is set to kick off on Dec. 16.

Matches will span that weekend to identify the 16 clubs progressing to the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for the midweek period around Jan. 14, 2026.

Copa del Rey Round of 32 Draw in Full