Honestly, if you missed the Copa del Rey schedule 2025, you missed one of those rare seasons where Spanish football actually lived up to the "chaos" label. Everyone talks about the magic of the cup, but this year? This year was basically a fever dream for anyone who loves a good underdog story—or a heart-pounding El Clásico final.
Usually, the early rounds feel like a formality. You see the big dogs like Real Madrid and Barcelona stroll into tiny towns, play on artificial grass that looks like a green carpet from the 80s, and leave with a 4-0 win. But the 2024-25 campaign, which wrapped up in April 2025, threw a wrench in that script.
The Road to Seville: Breaking Down the Dates
The whole thing kicked off way back in October 2024 with the preliminary rounds. By the time we hit January 2025, things got serious. The Round of 32 (Jan 3–7) was the first time we saw the heavy hitters from the Supercopa enter the fray.
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If you were tracking the Copa del Rey schedule 2025, the mid-winter stretch was a gauntlet. The Round of 16 went down between January 14 and 16. That’s where the "giant killings" usually happen, and 2025 didn't disappoint. We saw matches like Pontevedra hosting Getafe and Almeria taking on Leganés. It's that classic vibe: small-town stadiums packed to the rafters, local fans screaming their heads off, and La Liga stars looking slightly uncomfortable in the cold.
Then came the Quarter-finals in early February. Specifically, February 4 to 6. This is where the tournament shifted gears. Atlético Madrid absolutely dismantled Getafe 5-0 at the Metropolitano, while Barcelona barely survived a trip to the Mestalla, beating Valencia 5-2 in a game that was much closer than the score suggests. Ferran Torres started finding his rhythm here, which, as we know now, was a sign of things to come.
The Semi-Final Drama
The semi-finals in Spain are unique because they’re the only round played over two legs. It’s a total test of endurance.
First legs happened around February 25–26, with the returns on April 1–2. We ended up with a Final Four that felt like a throwback: Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, and Real Sociedad.
The Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad tie was a certified classic. After a 1-0 Madrid win in the first leg, the second leg at the Bernabéu ended in a staggering 4-4 draw. Imagine that. Eight goals. Total defensive collapse on both sides, but pure entertainment for the rest of us.
On the other side, Barcelona managed to squeeze past Atleti. After a 4-4 draw in the first leg (seriously, what was in the water in February?), a lone goal in the second leg sent the Catalans to Seville.
April 26: The Night La Cartuja Shook
The Copa del Rey schedule 2025 culminated on April 26 at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville. This wasn't just any final. It was a 32nd title on the line for Barça and a chance for Real Madrid to prove their dominance with Kylian Mbappé finally leading the line in a Spanish cup final.
The match was a rollercoaster. Pedri opened the scoring early, but then the French connection took over for Madrid. Mbappé and Tchouaméni put Los Blancos up 2-1. For a minute there, it looked like Madrid would cruise. But Ferran Torres—the tournament’s top scorer with 6 goals—found an equalizer in the 84th minute to force extra time.
In the 116th minute, Jules Koundé became the unlikely hero, heading home to make it 3-2. The game ended in absolute chaos. Antonio Rüdiger was so furious with the refereeing that he reportedly threw an ice pack onto the pitch during the post-match protests. 55,579 people watched it live, and honestly, it felt like double that on TV.
Looking Forward: The 2025-26 Season
Since we’re now moving into the 2025-26 season, the cycle has started all over again. The defending champs, Barcelona, have already been drawn against Racing Santander for their Round of 16 clash in January 2026. Real Madrid is set to face Albacete.
The current schedule for the 2025-26 edition looks something like this:
The Round of 16 is happening right now, between January 13 and 15, 2026.
Quarter-finals are slated for February 4, 2026.
The semi-final first legs go on February 11, with the return legs on March 4.
The big final? Mark your calendars for April 25, 2026.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re trying to catch the remaining games of the current 2025-26 cycle, here is what you need to do:
- Check the TV Rights: In the US, ESPN+ still holds the keys to the kingdom for the Copa. Most games kick off around 21:00 CET, which is mid-afternoon for the East Coast.
- Watch the "Small" Games: Don't just wait for the final. The magic is in the Round of 16. Teams like Albacete and Racing Santander are currently hosting the giants, and those stadiums provide an atmosphere you just don't get in the Champions League.
- Track the Top Scorers: Keep an eye on the goal charts. Last year, Ferran Torres came out of nowhere to take the MVP. This year, the race is wide open.
The 2025 final set a massive bar for drama. Whether the 2026 final at La Cartuja can top a 3-2 El Clásico thriller is anyone's guess, but if the early rounds are any indication, we're in for another wild ride.