Copa del Rey | Round of 16

Jan 14, 2025 at 8pm UK

Estadio O Couto

Ourense CF vs Valencia

Preview

Ourense defeated Guijuelo in the first round of this year's Copa del Rey before recording two excellent results in the following rounds, beating Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 and Real Valladolid 3-2 to book a surprise place in the last 16.

Pablo Lopez's side are currently 15th in the Spanish top flight, with 21 points from 19 games, and will go into the game on the back of a 2-1 home win over Lugo.

Ourense have already claimed a La Liga scalp in this season's Copa del Rey and will be looking for another as they look to book their place in the last eight of Spain's biggest cup competition for the first time in their history.

The home side will be huge underdogs, but they have only lost one of their last nine games in all competitions, winning six of them, and Lopez's side will be up against a Valencia side that has struggled this term.

Valencia were held to a 1-1 draw by Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday night, with Luis Rioja giving the visitors the lead at the Estadio Ramon, only for Adria Pedrosa to equalise in the 93rd minute.

Carlos Corberan's side currently sit at the foot of the La Liga table, having taken just 13 points from their opening 19 games, three behind 17th-placed Getafe.

Valencia have won just twice in the league this season and face the prospect of relegation to the Segunda Division for the first time since 1986-87, which would be catastrophic for a club of their stature.

Los Che are eight-time winners of the Copa del Rey, their last success in the competition coming in 2019, and have beaten Parla Escuela, Ejea and Eldense to reach this stage of the competition in 2024-25.

Despite their struggles this season, Valencia have lost just one of their last five games in all competitions, a narrow defeat at home to a 10-man Real Madrid in their 2025 season opener at the Mestalla.

Possibl e starting lineup

Ourense CF Copa del Rey form:WWW

Ourense CF form (all competitions):WDDLWW

Valencia Copa del Rey form:DWW

Valencia form (all competitions):LDDLWD

Team News

Ourense head coach Lopez could name the same team that kicked off against Real Valladolid in the last round of the competition, including a place on the left for Angel Sanchez.

Gonzalo Di Renzo has scored just once in 21 appearances for Ourense this season, but the 29-year-old will be expected to continue to play in the final third of the field, with those who impressed against Real Valladolid set to be rewarded.

Valencia will be without Mouctar Diakhaby, Fran Perez, Rafa Mir and Thierry Correia due to injury.

Coach Corberan is expected to field a strong side, with Hugo Duro likely to start at centre-forward, while Diego Lopez and Sergi Canos will be deployed in wide positions.

The future of Hugo Guillamon is currently the subject of speculation, but the Spaniard should start in midfield, with Pepelu in contention for a place in the middle of the park.

Corberan will have to assess the fitness of those who played against Sevilla, but Los Che have no fresh concerns from the 1-1 draw at the Estadio Ramon.

Possible starting lineup

Ourense CF possible starting lineup:

Guillen; Prado, Rodriguez, Zalaya, Prada; Ramos, Fidalgo; Gil, Noriega, Sanchez: Di Renzo

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Vazquez; Guillamon, Pepelu; D Lopez, Guerra, Canos; Duro