Deportivo Alaves have discovered their opponent for the first round of the Copa del Rey. Monday's draw paired the LaLiga side with CD Anaitasuna, a team from the regional División de Honor based in Azkoitia.
The tie will be a single match played at the Txerloia stadium, which has a natural grass pitch and a capacity of around 1,500, between 27 and 29 October. The exact date and kick-off time are yet to be confirmed, and the Video Assistant Referee system will not be used for this round.
The club confirmed the fixture on social media. "We already have our rival in the #CopaDelRey! A Basque single-legged tie ⚔️ 🆚 CD Anaitasuna 🏟️ Txerloia Futbol Zelaia 🗓️ ⚠️ TO BE CONFIRMED," the club posted.
Historical and sporting context
This draw marks a reunion after decades without an official meeting. The last time the two sides met was on 21 January 1990, resulting in a 0-2 away win for Alaves. In the 1983-84 season, the Vitoria-Gasteiz side progressed with a 9-1 aggregate victory.
Anaitasuna, who play in the Basque regional league, have contested only two league matches this season, recording one win and one loss. For Alaves, who sit sixth in LaLiga with 11 points, this cup tie comes during a patchy run of form of two wins, one draw and two defeats in their last five outings. Their next league match is at home against second-placed Atletico Madrid on 10 October.
The Copa del Rey holds particular significance for the Alaves faithful after last season's impressive run. Quique Sánchez Flores's team reached the quarter-finals, knocking out Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano before losing to Real Sociedad, who went on to win the trophy.
The draw for this first round, which featured 112 teams, applied geographical proximity criteria to reduce travel. Alaves could have been drawn against three other possible opponents: Atlético Calatayud, the winner of Sant Rafael vs Prat, or Sestao River.
More detail at Gasteiz Hoy
