While last season’s finalists Athletic Bilbao started their Copa del Rey campaign with a win, three other La Liga clubs lost at second-division opponents in the opening leg of the round-of-32 on Thursday.
Bilbao earned a 2-0 win at third-division club Real Balompedica Linense thanks to first-half goals by striker Kike Sola and defender Aymeric Laporte.
Outplayed until after half-time, the hosts mustered four good scoring chances in the second half, but goalkeeper Iago Herrerin saved their best opportunity when Ismael Flores fired a shot from close range with four minutes to play.
Bilbao, who have won the cup 23 times, lost in last season’s final when Barcelona won their record 27th cup.
Villarreal, Malaga and Sociedad Deportiva Eibar must all win their second-leg matches in two weeks to avoid early exits.
Eibar are likely to have the toughest time overcoming a 3-0 loss at SD Ponferradina, while Malaga’s struggles in the league carried over to the cup with a 2-1 loss at CD Mirandes.
Villarreal, semi-finalists last season, lost 3-2 at second-division side SD Huesca, who scored a 75th-minute winner through Darwin Machis.
RCD Espanyol took away a valuable goal in a 1-1 draw at Levante UD, and UD Las Palmas edged Real Sociedad 2-1 at home in clashes between La Liga clubs.
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