Second-tier high-flyers Racing Club de Ferrol host struggling La Liga outfit Sevilla in the Copa del Rey third round on Sunday.
In a repeat of the 1939 final, there are now just six places separating the sides in the league pyramid, despite the gulf in size.
Match preview
© Reuters
Despite the difference in divisions, Ferrol will come into the tie in much higher spirits, given their form this season.
The hosts remain unbeaten here at the Estadio Municipal da Malata this campaign, and that has strengthened an unlikely promotion push, which currently sees them lying second in La Liga2.
This will be their first game since December 21, but they ended 2023 with two fine victories against Tenerife and Real Valladolid, to maintain a spot in an automatic playoff place.
Ferrol's only defeats this season have all come away to recent La Liga sides in the form of Eibar, Espanyol, Levante and Huesca, so home advantage here could be key.
A second round win over La Liga2 leaders Leganes should provide the confidence that Ferrol can keep their promising run going, despite the size of their opponents.
It is approaching 50 years since Ferrol got past the third round of the Copa del Rey, so manager Cristobal Parralo will aspire to be the man who gets them that one step further and make their fans dream.
This will be the first meeting between the sides since the 2000-01 season, when Sevilla were briefly a second-tier side, as the sides drew 1-1 here.
The 1939 final has undoubtedly been the biggest-ever clash between the two sides, but there is a very slim chance that Sevilla will make it a repeat of their 6-2 win on that occasion.
© Reuters
Sevilla remain one of the most out-of-form sides in Spain, because excluding games against sides way down the pyramid in this competition, they have won just one of their previous 18 games.
Sacking their Europa League winning manager Jose Luis Mendilibar and replacing him with Diego Alonso did not have the desired effect.
The Uruguayan lasted just two months and failed to win a single league game, while also crashing out of Europe altogether.
Quique Sanchez Flores has since come in to replace him, and despite thrashing Granada 3-0 in his opening game, Sevilla have since slipped to back-to-back defeats.
The visitors will hope this competition can continue to provide some respite from their league struggles, and it is a competition where they have enjoyed success in recent years.
Despite falling short in their two most-recent final appearances against Barcelona in 2016 and 2018, the five-time winners were champions as recently as 2010, but European success has often taken centre stage in the past decade.
Team News
© Reuters
Ferrol have two injury concerns heading into this clash, with Luca Ferrone set to miss out with a hamstring issue, and midfielder Chuca a doubt.
Parralo is set to continue with his goalkeeper rotation in the cup, so Gianfranco Gazzaniga should come in to replace Ander Cantero.
Iker Losada has been a revelation since his move from Celta Vigo in the summer, contributing to 11 goals in the league already this season.
However, he may see his place in the side taken by Sabin Merino, who has featured from the start in the Copa and also scored a hat-trick off the bench in a recent 5-4 win over Albacete.
Sevilla's absentee list is into double figures, added to by the fact striker Youssef En-Nesyri has joined up with the Morocco squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Fellow attackers Mariano Diaz, Erik Lamela and Dodi Lukebakio are all sidelined, while full-back pairing Jesus Navas and Marcos Acuna will also miss out.
Orjan Nyland was first choice in goal before a muscular injury picked up in early November, so Marko Dmitrovic is set to continue between the sticks.
Sanchez Flores may use the cup game to switch his side up a bit after some disappointing results of late, with those on the fringes looking to force their way into the side.
Racing Club de Ferrol possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Delmas, Jon Garcia, David Castro, B Martinez; Nacho, Fran Manzanara, Alex Lopez, Heber Pena; Manu Justo, Sabin Merino
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Gattoni, Sergio Ramos, Kike Salas; Benavides, Rakitic, Bueno, Adria Pedrosa; Januzaj, Rafa Mir, Oliver Torres
We say: Racing Club de Ferrol 2-1 Sevilla
Even though they are out of Europe, Sevilla's focus may be on averting relegation fears in La Liga, and an out-of-sorts set of players may struggle against one of the strongest sides in the second tier.
Ferrol have been exceptional at home this season, but this would be by far their best result yet, and with not much separating the sides in the league pyramid, there is nothing to suggest why they cannot pull it off.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
