YOUTH TEAM CONFIRM SPOT IN FIRST ROUND OF COPA DEL REY JUVENIL 2023/24

Our U19s squad will compete once again in the the Copa del Rey Juvenil. The competition, which previously took place post-season, now begins at the halfway stage of the campaign and is decided by league position prior to this point. The four highest-ranked teams in the 7 groups, as well as some of the top fifth-placed teams based on a points-per-game basis due to the reduced size of certain groups, for example Group 4, in which our youth team is placed.

Our space in the round of 32 was confirmed after last weekend's 2-1 away win against Marbella FC and now cannot mathematically be overtaken by fifth-placed UD Almería, over whom we hold a 15-point advantage with four matches left before the turn of the year. Qualification comes at a time when we stand as one of four teams - Celta, Espanyol y Levante - who remain unbeaten in the league, having played two games more (13) than the others. 

Fixtures for the first round are decided on a geographical basis, with the draw beginning at the round-of-16 stage, with the matches all hosted by the highest-ranking team and all taking place on 6th-7th January. The round of 16 will be held on 24th January, and the quarter finals on 14th February. The four surviving teams  who emerge from this stage will then face off at neutral venue that is yet to be confirmed, between 6th and 10th March. We are currently leaders of Group 4, five points above Betis and 12 poinsts above Cádiz.