Cup draw has Barca, Madrid meeting in semi-finals

Madrid: Barcelona and Real Madrid avoided each other until at least the semi-final stage of the Copa del Rey, with Thursday's draw earning each team third-tier opponents to start the domestic cup competition. Defending champion Barcelona is at Alaves and Madrid plays at Alcoyano in the first leg on Oct. 31 before return legs on Nov. 28. Madrid and Barcelona have won the past two seasons, with Madrid winning the 2011 final.

Spain's powerhouses are among 20 topflight teams to enter the competition in the round of 32. Finalist Athletic Bilbao play Eibar and could face Barcelona for the fourth time in five seasons in the competition come the quarterfinals. First-division clubs Atletico Madrid and Sevilla were placed on the other side of the draw, which features four matchups between topflight clubs.

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