Athletic Club in the Copa draw pot: four possible rivals

Athletic Club will enter the Copa draw pot on Monday for the first-round draw (13:00). As Mundo Deportivo reports, after the federation published the teams’ breakdown, Athletic’s list of possible opponents has been cut down to four.

A local derby is on the table with Sestao River: the sides met in pre-season, and the Basque club booked its place after hammering Terrasa in the run-up to the Copa Federación semifinals. The other three possible rivals will come from this weekend’s playoff second legs.

In those ties, Anaitasuna—after winning 5-0 at Tedeón in the first leg—and Prat—after taking a 1-5 win at Sant Rafel—are in a strong position. For the remaining spot, Atlético Calatayud is edging it thanks to a 2-0 victory over Baztán.

If Sestao River don’t come up, Athletic could be drawn against Osasuna, Alavés, or Espanyol. There will also be other Basque teams in the pot: Barakaldo begins the KO phase away to a Segunda RFEF side, while Amorebieta and Portugalete have slim chances of hosting a Segunda club such as Girona, Eibar, Andorra, or Sabadell—though the most likely scenario is a tie against a Primera RFEF opponent.