By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The 2023 Copa del Rey schedule was revealed upon the draw completed Monday.
The eight-team tournament will be held in Badalona between 16 and 19 February.
The reigning back-to-back winner of the annual cup competition for teams of Spain’s Liga Endesa, FC Barcelona will take on Unicaja in the Quarterfinals. A potential win for Barca paired with Real Madrid overpowering Valencia will shape El Clasico in the Semifinals.
On the opposite side of the bracket, host Joventut Badalona will face Cazoo Baskonia and Lenovo Tenerife will meet Gran Canaria. The surviving side will compete for the title.
2023 Copa del Rey schedule
Quarterfinals
Real Madrid – Valencia (16/2, 18:30 CET)
FC Barcelona – Unicaja (16/2, 21:30 CET)
Lenovo Tenerife – Gran Canaria (17/2, 18:30 CET)
Joventut Badalona – Cazoo Baskonia (17/2, 21:30 CET)
Semifinals
Real Madrid or Valencia – FC Barcelona or Unicaja (18/2, 18:30 CET)
Lenovo Tenerife or Gran Canaria – Joventut Badalona or Cazoo Baskonia (18/2, 21:30 CET)
Final
Semifinals winners (19/2, 19:00 CET)
El Clasico effect
The previous two Copa del Rey settings featured ACB’s main powerhouses, Barcelona and Madrid in the Finals with Barca prevailing both in 2021 in Madrid and in 2022 in Granada. Unicaja was the last team to break in the Final in 2020 with the previous outside entry dating back to 2017 in the form of Valencia. Back in 2009 was the last Copa del Rey with both Blaugrana and Blancos knocked out prior to the final.
Backed by the two titles in a row, Barca went up to 27 Cup wins, now trailing its rival’s 28 wins by the slimmest possible margin. Behind the main attractions of the tournament, ranking third is the host of the 2023 Copa del Rey, Badalona with eight titles.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net