Jaume Tovar was the hero for Atlético Baleares, who had already beaten Real Oviedo.
Espanyol were knocked out of the Spanish King’s Cup, losing to Atlético Baleares in the second round, in a match where Girona had already been eliminated by Ourense, the team that eliminated Real Oviedo in the first round and which competes in the third division.
In Palma de Mallorca, a goal by Jaume Tovar in the 54th minute sealed the defeat of the Catalans (1-0), four-time winners of the competition, against the islanders, from the fourth tier.
Atlético Baleares qualified for the Round of 32, on a day when Celta Vigo, Valencia, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano confirmed their status as favorites, albeit with varying degrees of comfort.
Celta de Vigo needed a penalty shootout to beat Sant Andreu (7-6), from the fourth division, after a draw at the end of regulation time and extra time (1-1), in which Borja Iglesias (105 minutes) reacted to the Catalan goal by Alexis García (103m), before the Galicians were reduced to 10 players, due to the expulsion of Carlos Domínguez (113m).
Using Portuguese players Thierry Correia and André Almeida as substitutes, Valencia, holders of eight trophies, only beat Cartagena, from the third tier, in extra time (2-1).
Jesús Vázquez scored the decisive goal (120+1 minutes), after Kevin Sánchez had missed a penalty for Murcia (119m), at a time when Valencia were down to ten men following the expulsion of Frenchman Baptiste Santamaria (112m).
Sevilla, who have triumphed in five editions, won away against Extremadura (2-1), also from the fourth division, having used the Portuguese central defender Fábio Cardoso for the entire match.
Celta de Vigo, Valencia, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano joined Villarreal, Betis, Getafe, Real Sociedad, Elche, Alavés, Mallorca, Osasuna and Levante in the group of top-division teams qualified for the next phase, which will take place from December 16 to 18, with 32 clubs.
Spanish champions Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Bilbao will only enter the competition in the later stages of the Copa del Rey, as they will be participating in the Spanish Super Cup, scheduled for January 2026 in Saudi Arabia.