FC Barcelona have had a very strong start to this 2024-25 season, as they stand at very favorable positions in the two competitions they have played in so far, La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
In the league, the Blaugranes are still at the top of the table, despite having lost two and drawn one match in the last few weeks, mainly because of their good start to the campaign. Similarly, they are also 3rd in the UCL table, well on track for a direct qualification to the Round of 16.
However, they will soon shift their focus to another crucial competition, the Copa del Rey. According to Mundo Deportivo, they are set to discover their first opponents in this domestic tournament on December 9th, when the draw for the Round of 32 is scheduled to take place.
FC Barcelona, along with Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Athletic Club were exempted from the first two rounds of the competition, as they will be playing in the Spanish Super Cup.
FC Barcelona finished the last La Liga campaign as the runner-up, while Real Madrid were the winner, and thus both these teams qualified for the Spanish Super Cup and were exempted from the first two rounds of Copa del Rey.
Similarly, Mallorca and Athletic Club, who contested the Copa del Rey final last season, are also participating in the Super Cup. As a result, both teams were exempt from the first two rounds of this season’s Copa del Rey.
Starting from the Round of 32, these four teams will join the remaining 28 teams that advanced through the first two rounds. The Round of 32 is set to kick off on January 3rd, meaning FC Barcelona will have to wait until next year to begin their Copa del Rey campaign.
