Magic of the Cup or Valencia Revival? All Eyes on Nuevo Pepico Amat Tonight
Valencia travel to Elda tonight to face Eldense in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. Both teams will view this fixture as a much-needed opportunity to secure a morale-boosting win.
For Valencia, the tie offers a chance to ease the pressure of a turbulent La Liga campaign, where they languish in 19th place. Meanwhile, second-tier Eldense will look to channel the "magic of the cup" as they aim to knock out their illustrious visitors.
Eldense: Fighting for an upset
Eldense, promoted to the Segunda División in 2023, are enduring a difficult season, sitting 19th in the table. They’ve gone six league games without a win, but their Copa del Rey form has been a different story. Narrow victories over Atlético Paso and top-flight Cádiz in earlier rounds have kept their dream alive.
Manager Dani Ponz will be banking on veteran striker Juanto Ortuño, who has scored five times this season, to lead the attack. However, Eldense will need to tighten up defensively, having conceded in their last seven games. The Nuevo Pepico Amat will provide an intimate and electric atmosphere, which Ponz hopes will inspire his players to punch above their weight.
Eldense predicted lineup:
MartÃn; Parra, Piña, Mateu, GarcÃa; Ortuño, Camarasa, Collado, Jorquera; Quintana, Ortuño
Valencia: A cup run for confidence
Carlos Corberán’s Valencia side are in desperate need of a spark. The new manager’s debut ended in heartbreak, with Los Che losing 2-1 to Real Madrid after leading until the 85th minute. With the team sitting in La Liga’s relegation zone, Corberán is expected to rotate heavily tonight, giving fringe players an opportunity to impress.
Valencia have navigated past Parla Escuela and Ejea in earlier rounds, and despite their precarious league form, the Copa del Rey remains a competition they traditionally excel in. The eight-time winners last lifted the trophy in 2019 and will be keen to avoid a shock exit tonight. Look out for Umar Sadiq, who could make his debut after joining the club.
Valencia Predicted Lineup:
Doménech; Mosquera, Córdoba, Vázquez; Canós, Pepelu, Guillamón, Valera; Almeida, Dani Gómez
Key Matchups
Juanto Ortuño vs Valencia’s Defence: The experienced Eldense forward will test Valencia’s unfamiliar backline, particularly if Corberán opts to rest key defenders.
Sergi Canós vs Eldense Full-backs: Canós has the pace and trickery to exploit Eldense’s defensive frailties and create chances for Valencia’s front line.
Midfield Battle: Pepelu’s return for Valencia will add composure and control, but Eldense’s Camarasa and Sergio Ortuño are tenacious and could disrupt Los Che’s rhythm.
Despite their woes, Valencia’s superior quality should prevail, even if Eldense make it tough in the early stages. However, a rotated Valencia side may lack fluency but should have enough firepower to secure progression to the Round of 16.
Can Corberán's Valencia take the first step towards a morale-boosting cup run, or will Eldense write another magical chapter in their Copa del Rey story? All eyes will be on the Nuevo Pepico Amat tonight where we will find out.