Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona Advance in Copa del Rey After Dramatic First Round Ties

Three LaLiga clubs survived difficult first round ties in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday 27 October 2026. Rayo Vallecano needed extra time to win 3-2 at Recreativo Huelva, Elche came from behind to win 3-1 at UD Pinatar, and Girona won 2-0 at CD Cuarte Industrial. The three results were part of a programme of 18 first round ties played on Tuesday, before the Wednesday programme was postponed following the train collision in Toledo. The first round of the Copa del Rey is played over a single leg at the ground of the lower ranked club, and the format creates real danger for top flight teams. Smaller pitches, varied surfaces and motivated home crowds make the early rounds unpredictable. Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona all avoided the fate that befell Espanyol on the same evening, when the Catalan club lost 4-3 after extra time at Sestao River. The three winners will now wait for the draw for the second round, once the postponed Wednesday ties have new dates.

Rayo Vallecano Win After Extra Time At Recreativo

Rayo Vallecano trailed early at the Nuevo Colombino, and the tie required extra time before the visitors secured progress. Ale Marin put Recreativo Huelva ahead in the 23rd minute, with an assist from Lulo Dasilva. The home side were reduced to 10 players in the 41st minute, when Roan Riera was sent off for a professional foul. Alemao, whose full name is Alexandre Zurawski, levelled from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute, and the score remained 1-1 through the second half. Rayo Vallecano took control in extra time. Alemao scored again in the 97th minute, with an assist from Alvaro Garcia, and Jorge de Frutos made the score 3-1 in the 99th minute, also with an assist from Alvaro Garcia. The drama was not over. Florian Lejeune was sent off for Rayo Vallecano in the 108th minute, and Paolo Romero scored a penalty for Recreativo Huelva in the 109th minute to make the score 3-2. Rayo Vallecano held on through the remaining minutes of extra time, with goalkeeper Dani Cardenas making important saves late in the match. The statistics underlined the pressure from the visitors, with Rayo Vallecano reported to have had 70 percent possession and 34 shots, compared with 30 percent possession and 10 shots for the home side. The win was a welcome response after a 3-0 league defeat at home to Elche on Saturday, and it kept Rayo Vallecano in a competition that offers a realistic route to a long cup run.

Elche Come From Behind At Pinatar

Elche also conceded first, but recovered to win 3-1 at Pinatar Stadium. Mohammed Benhallou put UD Pinatar ahead in the 18th minute, and the home side held the lead until the 32nd minute. Ezequiel Ponce levelled for Elche in the 32nd minute, and the same player scored again in the 54th minute, with an assist from Grady Diangana, to put Elche ahead. Ali Houary completed the scoring in the 81st minute, with a right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner, assisted by Abiel Osorio. The result rewarded patience from Elche, who had to work hard against organised lower league opposition. The tie had been scheduled for 18:00, and Elche used substitutions in the second half to add fresh energy, with Facundo Buonanotte, Ruben Sanchez and Alvaro Padilla all introduced late in the match. The win continued a positive run for Elche, who had beaten Rayo Vallecano 3-0 in LaLiga on Saturday. The cup victory showed squad depth, because Elche changed the team and still found goals from Ponce and Houary. The club will now look to the second round draw with confidence, and with the knowledge that the first round format can punish any team that starts slowly.

Girona Win Comfortably At Cuarte

Girona produced the most comfortable result of the three LaLiga winners, with a 2-0 victory at CD Cuarte Industrial. Abel Ruiz put Girona ahead in the 23rd minute, and the visitors held the lead through the rest of the first half. Oleksandr Pishchur doubled the lead in the 60th minute, and Girona controlled the remainder of the match. The tie was played at the Campo de Futbol de Cuarte de Huerva, and Girona made changes in the second half, with Carles Perez and Cristhian Stuani among the substitutes introduced. The clean sheet was important, because cup ties at lower league grounds can become difficult if the home side score first and gain belief from the crowd. Girona avoided that danger by scoring early, and by adding a second goal just after the hour mark. The result gave Girona a place in the second round, and it provided valuable minutes for players who had not started every league match. The club will now wait for the second round draw, with the Wednesday ties still to be rearranged.

The Wider First Round Picture

The Tuesday programme produced 18 results, and the pattern was clear. Top flight clubs faced real tests, and the single leg format gave lower league clubs a genuine chance. Villarreal won 5-0 at Manacor, with five different players on the scoresheet, and that result was the most comfortable win for a LaLiga club on Tuesday. Espanyol suffered the biggest upset, with the 4-3 defeat at Sestao River leading directly to the dismissal of Manolo Gonzalez. Other ties included a 4-0 win for Real Zaragoza at Tudelano, and a 3-0 win for Malaga at Sporting Alcazar. Two ties finished level after 90 minutes and required further action, including the draw between Manresa and Sant Andreu, and the draw between Llanera and Ponferradina. The Wednesday programme, with 24 ties, was then postponed after the Toledo train collision, and the RFEF said that new dates would be announced. The second round draw cannot be completed until the first round is finished, so the Tuesday winners face a wait before learning the identity of the next opponent.

Match	Result	Key scorers
Recreativo Huelva vs Rayo Vallecano	2-3 after extra time	Marin and Romero for Recreativo; Alemao twice and De Frutos for Rayo.
UD Pinatar vs Elche	1-3	Benhallou for Pinatar; Ponce twice and Houary for Elche.
CD Cuarte Industrial vs Girona	0-2	Ruiz and Pishchur for Girona.

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