FC Barcelona to play Athletic Club in Copa del Rey last 16

FC Barcelona have been drawn against Athletic Club de Bilbao in the last sixteen of the Copa del Rey. The game is a repeat of last season's final, and is between the two 'kings of cups'. Barça have won the competition a record 31 times, and the Basques are second with 23.

After winning 2-1 against Linares in their opening fixture, Xavi Hernández and his side continue the cup title defence in a game to be played as a single leg on January 18, 19 or 20. The exact time and date will be announced shortly.

The games not involving teams playing in the Spanish Super Cup will be played on January 15 and 16.

The rest of the draw for the last 16 is as follows: 

Atlético Baleares v Valencia 
Girona v Rayo Vallecano 
Sporting Gijón v Cádiz 
Elche v Real Madrid 
Real Sociedad v Atlético Madrid 
Betis v Sevilla 
Mallorca v Espanyol 

A cup classic

Just nine months ago, the Catalan and Basque clubs met in Seville in last season’s final, with Barça collecting the trophy thanks to an emphatic 4-0 win.

The clubs met the previous season too, in the quarter finals and also in a one-legged tie at San Mamés. Athletic won that game 1-0 with a late injury time goal.

The teams also met in the final in 2009, 2012 and 2015, with FC Barcelona victorious on every occasion.