Barcelona to face Real Sociedad in Copa del Rey quarterfinals

Frenkie de Jong duels for the ball with David Silva during the match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at Reale Arena on August 21, 2022 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Frenkie de Jong duels for the ball with David Silva during the match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at Reale Arena on August 21, 2022 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Robert Lewandowski celebrates with Ousmane Dembele after scoring their side’s third goal during the match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at Reale Arena on August 21, 2022 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Robert Lewandowski celebrates with Ousmane Dembele after scoring their side’s third goal during the match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at Reale Arena on August 21, 2022 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The draw for the Copa del Rey quarterfinals took place with Barcelona drawing the surging Real Sociedad.

It was perhaps the toughest opponents the Catalans could have drawn. The silver lining is the match is set to take place at the Camp Nou.

Real Sociedad currently sit third in LaLiga with 35 points — three behind Real Madrid and six of Barcelona. They’ve won their last four matches and are in the midst of a prolonged winning streak.

To get to this stage of the Copa del Rey, Barcelona beat Intercity to advance to the round of 16 where they faced Ceuta and won with a decisive 5-0 scoreline. Real Sociedad, on the other hand, beat Logroñes before beating Mallorca in the aforementioned round of 16.

These two sides have already faced one another in the league. On that occasion, the match took place at the Reale Arena where Barcelona won 4-1 with Robert Lewandowski scoring his first brace with the club. Ansu Fait and Ousmane Dembélé were also among the scorers.

Everyone is well aware of the “Anoeta Curse” but the league leaders have somewhat done away with that moniker as they’ve gotten positive results away to the Basque side. At home, Barcelona have enjoyed more than their fair share of success. Last season, they won 1-0 at the Camp Nou.

It won’t be the only match between these two teams in a cup competition either. Barça Femini will face Real Sociedad Femenino on Sunday in the Spanish Super Cup final.

The rest of the draw also resulted in some interesting clashes. Real Madrid will take on Atletico Madrid in the latest edition of the Madrid Derby. Valencia will host Athletic Bilbao as Osasuna will do the same against Sevilla.