Copa del Rey curiosities for the game against Sporting Gijón

Valencia CF will face Sporting Gijón in the Copa del Rey at El Molinón-Enrique Castro “Quini”. This will be the seventeenth time they have squared off in the competition. Here are some interesting facts about this encounter:

Recent meetings

Valencia CF have won two of the last three fixtures between the two clubs. In 2019, they lost the first meeting 2-1, but went on to win convincingly 3-0 at Mestalla. The most recent encounter was a 4-0 triumph for Valencia CF, with goals from Cavani (x2), Kluivert, and Lino.

Source: Ciberche

The two oldest stadiums in Spain

Mestalla is the oldest ground in the Primera División (1923) and El Molinón in Spain as a whole (1908).

The names of the stadiums of both teams are linked to elements of civil architecture near the grounds. El Molinón takes its name from an old mill on the site of the current Parador Nacional hotel, while Mestalla refers to the irrigation channel that historically ran alongside the stadium.

Both teams have stadiums that were used in the 1982 World Cup. Gijón hosted West Germany's matches in the group stage of the competition against Algeria, Chile and Austria, while Mestalla held the matches for the Spanish national team against Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland and Honduras.

On April 8, 1923, Valencia CF played their first Copa del Rey match, which took place at El Molinón against Sporting Gijón.

Players in common

Valencia CF have a strong connection to the Asturias region, with players like Miguel Ángel Angulo (currently coach of VCF Mestalla), David Villa, Javi Fuego, and Eloy Olaya, among others, having played for both clubs. Striker Diego López also came up through the youth ranks at Real Sporting de Gijón.