MADRID, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The third round of Spain's King's Cup kicks off on Tuesday evening retaining the home and away format which makes it so difficult to see a surprise in the tournament these days.
This stage of the competition is also on a seeded basis, with sides playing in European competition guaranteed to face the sides from the lower divisions, further complicating our chances of an upset.
Cup holders Barcelona travel to face third tier Murcia on Tuesday, while Sevilla, who are in a mini crisis, are away to Cartagena, also from the third tier.
Real Madrid have a short trip south of the capital to face Fuenlabrada on Thursday in a game whose receipts will cover 25 percent of Fuenlabrada's costs for the entire season, while on Wednesday Atletico Madrid are away to Elche, now in the third tier Segunda B, but who three years ago were playing in the Spanish top-flight.
Athletic Club Bilbao, whose coach Kuko Ziganda is starting to be questioned, need a good performance away to Formentera in the Balearic Islands, while Villarreal travel to the north west to take on Ponferradina.
Real Sociedad have a tricky visit to Lleida, but the fact that all of the big clubs have the return leg in front of their fans at the end of November should mean they all proceed into the next phase.
Other more interesting ties see Cadiz face Betis, while in form Valencia are away to fallen giants, Zaragoza and there are all first division ties between Getafe and Alaves, Girona and Levante, Eibar and Celta and Deportivo la Coruna and Las Palmas, although most sides will rotate their starting elevens to give an opportunity to fringe players.
