Copa del Rey 2021/22 semi-final draw: as it happened
Copa del Rey 2021/22 semi-final draw
Copa del Rey 2021-22 (semi-final draws)
Rayo Vallecano-Real Betis (Feb 9/10)
Athletic Club-Valencia (Feb 9/10)
return legs March 2/3
The exact kick-off times for next week's semi-finals will be confirmed this evening via the Spanish FA. Cheers for tuning in today.
The return legs will be played on 2-3 March at, the Bentio Villamarin and Mestalla respectively.
First legs: next week March 9-10:
Rayo Vallecano - Real Betis on Wednesday
Athletic Club - Valencia on Thursday
That means that Athletic Club will face Valencia
Rayo Vallecano will face ......Real Betis...
Second side out is .... Athletic Club who will play in San Mames next week....
El Rayo will be at home ......
First out is ..... Rayo Vallecano........
The first two balls out will be the home sides in the semi-final.... important !! so the first two sides out will not face one another....
Draw time.....
Now, a ramble on how the track came about .... come on... whip out the balls.....Mario and Alaska will be the two to select the semi-finalists.....
Alaska and Mario will also perform the track ahead of the Copa del Rey final on April 23 ....you have been warned !
Celebrar es Ganar .... competing is winning....the track appears to be called..... bland Europop !
A brief musical interlude as Alaska and Mario Vaquerizo sing what does sound like an 'official Copa del Rey' song .... all about ..illusion, competing, winning, dreaming, battling and surprises.... not a classic by any means, but hey, what's a football competition without an 'official' song ......
The President of the Spanish FA Luis Rubiales is in attendance today, rarely the head of the RFEF is invoked in the draw process.
Off to the FA HQ we go for the draw.... Real Betis, Valencia, Rayo and Athletic the four sides left....
The draw is moments away .....
Real Betis last tasted Copa del Rey glory in 2004–05 and have a great chance at securing silverware this season. The Verdiblancos are still involved in UEFA competition and will face Zenit in the next round of the Europa League.
In theory, today's draw should be a swift and straight forward affair, four teams, four balls, one bowl. The Spanish FA do like to stretch things out a little and we've been promised a special 'musical guest'. Having said that, I really can't see the whole process lasting more than 20 minutes.
Spanish FA confirm away goals situation
The Spanish FA (RFEF) have issued a circular confirming that away goals will not count as 'double' in case of a tie after both games. This sees the RFEF adopting a similar mechanic as used by UEFA this season. Should games be tied after both legs, extra time will be employed and then, if needed...penalty kicks.
10 minutes away from the draw... nerves a jangling among fans of the four involved sides.
Last year we witnessed two Copa del Rey finals in the month of April, the 2020-21 final and the delayed 2019-20 final but sadly the pandemic meant both games were staged behind closed doors. The current covid situation in Spain sees stadiums capped at 75% of total capacity and that restriction is expected to be lifted in March. As things stand, everything points to the April final going ahead with fans and the game set to be the party that a cup final is meant to be.
Valencia too strong for Cadiz
Mestalla witnessed Valencia overcome Cadiz 2-1 on Wednesday with Guedes and Hugo Duro on target for the home side. 'Los Che' last won the Copa del Rey in the 2018-19 season with Marcelino on the bench. The draw could throw up a tie for the now Athletic manager against his former side.
Semi-finals see two legged ties
For the first time in the competition, the Copa del Rey ties will be a two legged affair with home and away matches to be played. Games will be played 9-10 February and 2-3 March. The Spanish FA will confirm the exact dates and kick-off times later this evening.
Vallecas enjoying cup success
Rayo fans are in dreamland having seen their side advance to the semi-final stage for the first time in 40 years and there were some great scenes in the 'barrio' of Madrid before, during and after the 1-0 win over Mallorca on Wednesday.
In the photo, the Rayo squad are serenaded by fans pre-game.
Real Betis boss Manuel Pelegrini pleased with his team's achievement in the cup this year.
Betis silence San Sebastian crowd
Real Betis beating Real Sociedad with an emphatic 0-4 in San Sebastian was the most surprising scoreline in the quarter-final with the Beticos the only side to win away from home. Betis will be well aware that the final will be staged at the Estadio de la Cartuja in the Andalusian capital and this will serve as an added stimulus for Manuel Pelegrini's side.
Athletic have seen off both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid on their journey to reach the semi-final stage and the Basque outfit have been the beaten finalists in the past two years.
It's the side from Seville who are cited as favourites to lift the trophy on 23 April with Pelegrini's men ahead of Athletic, Valencia and then Rayo as the fancied teams to win the Spanish Cup this season.
Of the four sides still in the competition, only Rayo have never previously lifted the title and have only advanced as far as the semis once, back in 1982!
Athletic have lifted the cup on an impressive 23 occasions, compared to the eight Valencia triumphs with Betis proclaimed champions just twice.
The draw itself will commence at 1510 CET/ 9:10 am ET and I'd anticipate the whole proceeding to take approximately 15 minutes.
Hello and welcome to our coverage of today's Copa del Rey semi-final draw as Real Betis, Valencia, Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club will discover their opoonets.