Levante UD secured their Copa del Rey progression with a 92nd-minute goal against Orihuela, on a final first-round day featuring comfortable wins for teams like Betis, Alavés, and Celta. There were no upsets among First Division clubs. Espanyol also advanced after a tough match settled by Kike García.
The first round of the 2025-2026 Copa del Rey ended with drama in Orihuela, where Levante UD beat Orihuela CF 3-4 in a match that went down to the wire. Paco López's side came back with a goal from Espí in the 92nd minute, just two after Ayo equalized for the hosts in the 90th. This win prevented an upset in the tournament's opening phase.
Espanyol overcame Athletic Lleida thanks to a brace from Kike García, sparing Manolo González's team an early exit like Oviedo's on Tuesday. In other matches, RC Celta de Vigo defeated Puerto de Vega 0-2 with goals from debutant Óscar Marcos under Giráldez and Damián from the penalty spot two minutes later, delivering a subdued but solid performance with a clean sheet until halftime.
Deportivo Alavés crushed Getxo 0-7, featuring braces from Mariano and Carlos Vicente in the first half for a 0-4 lead at the break. Mariano completed his poker in the second half, underscoring Vitoria's dominance. Meanwhile, Real Betis Balompié thrashed Palma del Río 1-5, with Riquelme shining on the wing and Altimira bossing midfield. Former Betis player Sergio León assisted the consolation goal for the Córdoba side, though Pellegrini's team controlled the game throughout.
This round confirmed the big teams' progression without mishaps, contrasting the chaos in Orihuela and Espanyol's initial struggles.