The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has been set to make changes to the current format of the Copa del Rey competition. Due to the new rules, Real Madrid and Barcelona will avoid each other until the quarter-final stage and cause play.
The Copa format will now see regional teams compete in geographical areas in the early rounds, and non-professional teams will continue to be sown against La Liga and then Segunda parties as the tournament progresses. The four Spanish Supercup parties would participate in the competition in the round of 32 as placed teams.
However, there are new changes in the format, as reported by Sport, which will see the Supercup teams, namely Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club this year. The four parties will enter the draw in another pot in the round of 32 and round of 16, which means that they will not be able to meet each other until the quarterfinals at the earliest.
It has asked questions about whether the most successful clubs might not compete on a level playing field. The Supercup parties are already obliged to play fewer games, and now they will be confronted with what is on paper, easier draws than other teams in the competition.
With the RFEF who regularly benefits from raised luminaires between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Supercup – their deal with Saudi Arabia pays more for a Clasico match – there is a suggestion that this shift may be aimed at increasing the opportunities for games later in the competition.