Barcelona and Real Madrid already know their paths in the Copa del Rey Round of 16. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) officially announced the matchups on Wednesday (7), confirming that both giants will play away from home as they continue their pursuit of the Spanish cup title.
The two clubs faced each other in last season’s final and once again enter the tournament as strong contenders.
Barcelona Face Racing Santander After Giant-Killing Run
Defending champions Barcelona will travel to face Racing Santander, the current leaders of the Spanish Segunda División. Racing arrive full of confidence after pulling off one of the biggest surprises of the competition so far — eliminating Villarreal, who currently sit third in La Liga.
The matchup promises to be one of the most intriguing ties of the round, with Barcelona facing a highly motivated side that has already shown it can compete against top-flight opposition.
Real Madrid to Play Albacete on the Road
Real Madrid will also be tested away from home, as they face Albacete in the Round of 16. Los Blancos remain one of the favorites for the trophy and will be aiming to avoid any slip-ups against a side eager to produce an upset in front of their supporters.
Atlético Madrid and Other La Liga Clubs Also Travel
Atlético Madrid are another La Liga heavyweight set to play away, taking on Deportivo La Coruña in a traditional and historic Spanish matchup.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao and Valencia will visit CyD Leonesa and Burgos CF, respectively, as the competition continues to mix top-tier teams with lower-division challengers.
All-La Liga Matchups Highlight the Round
Three Round of 16 fixtures will feature clashes exclusively between La Liga clubs. One of the most notable is Real Betis vs Elche, with Betis currently enjoying a stronger league campaign and pushing for European qualification.
The other top-flight encounters are:
- Real Sociedad vs Osasuna
- Alavés vs Rayo Vallecano
All four teams are positioned in the middle of the La Liga table, making these ties difficult to predict.
Copa del Rey Round of 16: Full Match Schedule
The Round of 16 matches will be played on January 13th, 14th, and 15th, following the conclusion of the Spanish Super Cup. Exact kick-off times and venues will be confirmed by the RFEF in the coming days.
Confirmed fixtures:
- Deportivo La Coruña vs Atlético Madrid
- Racing Santander vs Barcelona
- CyD Leonesa vs Athletic Bilbao
- Albacete vs Real Madrid
- Burgos CF vs Valencia
- Real Betis vs Elche
- Real Sociedad vs Osasuna
- Alavés vs Rayo Vallecano
With major clubs facing tricky away trips, the Copa del Rey Round of 16 promises drama, upsets, and high-stakes football across Spain.
🚨 OFICIAL | 𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗦 𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗦 𝗗𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗔 𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗬.
Los encuentros se disputarán entre el 13 y el 15 de enero.#CopaDelReyMAPFRE | #LaCopaMola🏆 pic.twitter.com/o0sWLgzzYk
— RFEF (@rfef) January 7, 2026
