We're only just reaching the quarterfinals for the 2015/16 Copa del Rey, but the tournament has already brought its fair share of surprises. From the controversial disqualification of Real Madrid in the middle of the round of 32 (for fielding an ineligible player) to the surprisingly great showing from some of Barcelona's up-and-coming young talents, this year's Copa del Rey has offered entertainment and discussion in equal measure. Now, with the slate for the quarterfinal officially announced, we're checking back in with the tournament to assess the likely outcomes of the next run and whether or not FC Barcelona are a shoe-in to win the CDR title once more in 2016.
The Quarterfinal Draw
As is customary for the Copa del Rey, most of the football clubs that have survived all the way to the quarterfinals are La Liga teams. The one exception this year is CD Mirandes, the Segunda Division club that managed a surprising 4-1 aggregate win against Deportivo La Coruna in the round of 16. Mirandes won a 3-0 away fixture in the second leg of the round of 16 to send Deportivo packing. They're definitely this season's Cinderella story.
With the quarterfinal, though, it looks like the clock might be about to strike midnight for Mirandes. The second-tier soccer squad are drawn against Sevilla for the next round. Sevilla were eliminated in the quarters last year, by Espanyol, but the two-time reigning Europa League Champions seem unlikely to fall to a lower-tier soccer club.
The other three quarterfinal matches will all be played between La Liga teams that have already done battle during the 2015/16 domestic campaign. Those match-ups will pit Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao, Valencia against Las Palmas, and Atletico