Kings Cup to the fore this week in Spain

Spain's BBVA Primera Liga sides enter into the third round of the King's Cup knockout competition in three days this week from Tuesday to Thursday.

The only exception to this is, defending champions, FC Barcelona, who because of their commitments in the World Club Championships in Japan later this month have already played the first leg of their first round tie against third tier side Villanovense, which ended in a 0-0 draw in Extremadura.

Last year's beaten finalists, Athletic Club Bilbao, travel to the south of Spain to face Linense on Wednesday, while Real Madrid travel even further south to face historic club, Cadiz.

Atletico Madrid, another of the favorites, travel to Catalonia to face Reus, while second division side, Leganes, may fancy their chances against Primera Liga strugglers, Granada.

There will be a lot of attention focused on Barrakaldo, just outside of Bilbao, as the Basque side, who lead their group in the third tier, Segunda B, face a Valencia in chaos after the resignation of coach Nuno Espiritu Santo.

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville and club delegate Voro will be in the dugout for Valencia.

Other interesting ties see Logrones at home to Sevilla, while Malaga can expect to struggle in Mirando del Ebro against Mirandes, while there are also some all Primera Liga ties such as Las Palmas-Real Sociedad, Betis-Sporting Gijon and Levante-Espanyol.

The fact that ties are over two legs with the return leg played later this month, reduces the chances of an upset, but with many top flight sides likely to play fringe players in the first leg this week at least could produce some shocks. Endi