Atlético Madrid is set to visit Cacereño in the second round of the Copa del Rey 2024-25, marking a historic clash between a fourth-division Spanish team and a top-tier Champions League squad. The match is scheduled for Thursday, December 5th, at the Estadio Príncipe Felipe. This encounter offers the local team an opportunity to create an upset in a game that could last 120 minutes or even head into penalties if a prolonged draw ensues.
For the Cacereño side, players like Deco and Christian Martínez Díaz have been pivotal with their previous cup goals. Additionally, Salinas and Marcos Carrillo Giménez are key figures worth mentioning. On the other hand, the visiting Atlético boasts stars like Julián Álvarez, Antoine Griezmann, and Rodrigo De Paul as their main attractions. Despite uncertainty around potential rotations, Conor Gallagher could also join this list of standout players.
Cacereño, a team competing in the lower ranks of Spanish football, has a history dating back 106 years with their highest achievement being in the second division. Managed by Álex García Peña, they advanced past Gimnástic with a 2-1 victory in the previous cup round. In contrast, Atlético Madrid is on an upward trajectory domestically, riding on four consecutive wins, including a dominant 5-0 triumph over Valladolid. Under Diego Simeone's guidance, they climb to third in the league standings and aim to clinch a Copa del Rey title, a feat they last achieved in 2013.
Previous encounters between the two teams have been minimal and decades apart. The only official clash was in the Copa del Rey 1981-82 first round, where they drew 1-1 in the away leg, followed by Atlético Madrid's 4-2 victory at home with memorable performances from Hugo Sánchez and Marián. As the big day approaches, fans are gearing up for an exciting showdown between these contrasting sides as anticipation builds for the match-up, offering a blend of tradition, history, and aspirations on the football pitch.
