Spanish cup quarter final draw

The draw for the quarter finals of the Spanish cup produced an all Madrid derby and also ensured that a second division side will be in the semi-finals. Real Madrid were paired with neighbours Rayo Vallecano for the first time ever in the Copa del Rey, with the first leg in the Santiago Bernabeu and the return in Vallecas. Rayo will be hoping to fill their ground for the first time this season. The six first division sides left in the competition were hoping to be drawn against one of the two remaining second division teams, Córdoba of second division A and Figueres of second division B (group II). However as luck would have it they were drawn together, which left both clubs disappointed at the lost opportunity of good gate money but excited at the prospect of reaching the semi-finals. If Figueres make it they will be the first 2B side to go that far in the history of the competition.

Champions League side Deportivo de La Coruña will play Valladolid with the first match at the Riazor stadium in Gallicia. Depor went through to this round by default after Hospitalet refused to play their home match anywhere but on their own artificial pitch. The Catalan side were fined two million Pesetas and banned from next year's competition for their action, but their real loss was in the fifty million Pesetas income which the tie would have probably generated. The fourth quarter final fixture is between first division sides Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao. The Basque team start as favourites in view of their long cup history, although Víctor Muñoz's squad will be keen to win a bit of silverware having reached this stage of the tournament for the first time ever. (21.12.01)