Granada will attempt to end a seven-game winless run when they make the long trip to Galicia for Thursday's Copa del Rey clash against Arosa.

The hosts, who play their league football in the fifth tier, will be hoping to pull off an almighty upset in the first-round tie.

Match preview

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Arosa are looking forward to appearing in Spain's premier cup competition for the first time since the 1993-94 season.

The fifth-tier side secured their place in the main draw courtesy of their finishing position in the 2022-23 campaign.

They collected 58 points from their 30 matches to finish in second place in Group 1 of the Tercera Federacion, securing their spot in the playoffs and the first round of the Copa del Rey.

After failing to win promotion via the playoffs, Arosa experienced a slow start to the new campaign, picking up just two points from their opening four matches.

However, they will take some momentum into Thursday's cup tie after putting together a four-game unbeaten run (W2, D2), which includes a 2-0 win over Betanzos in their most recent outing.

After winning promotion back to La Liga at the first time of asking, Granada have struggled to readapt to life in the top flight, having won just one of their 11 league games to leave them languishing in the relegation zone.

That sole victory took place on matchday three against Mallorca, which ultimately left Granada without a win in over two months.

In their last eight matches, the Andalusian side has picked up just three points, and they head into Thursday's cup tie off the back of consecutive defeats to Osasuna and Villarreal.

They threatened to mount a comeback in Monday's clash against the Yellow Submarine, as goals from Ricard Sanchez and Myrto Uzuni reduced Villarreal's three-goal cushion in an entertaining first half, but Granada were unable to find an equaliser in the second period.

Having conceded 28 goals in 11 matches, Granada may view the midweek cup meeting as the best chance to claim their first clean sheet of the season.

Team News

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Arosa midfielder Diego Enjamio dropped down to the bench at the weekend, but he could be brought back into the side for the midweek cup tie.

Manu Taboas is likely to have his work cut out in goal, and he will hope to have some protection from his backline, which is expected to include Carlos Pacheco and Martin Sanchez as the central defenders.

As for Granada, they are unable to call upon the services of Jesus Vallejo, Miguel Angel Rubio and Raul Fernandez, who are all missing through injury.

Gerard Gumbau and Lucas Boye will be available after missing the defeat to Villarreal through suspension, but the pair are unlikely to start Thursday's fixture, with Paco Lopez keeping one eye on Sunday's league clash with Valencia.

With the Granada boss expected to rotate his squad, the likes of Adrian Lopez, Wilson Manafa, Victor Diaz, Njegos Petrovic and Famara Diedhiou are set to feature in the starting lineup.

Arosa possible starting lineup:
Taboas; Pedreira, Cotilla, Pacheco, M. Sanchez; Mella, Concheiro, Enjamio, Martinez, Diz; Borjita

Granada possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Manafa, Diaz, Bosch, Neva; Callejon, Ruiz, Petrovic, Perea; Diedhiou, Weissman

We say: Arosa 1-4 Granada

Granada have experienced a poor start to the campaign, and we think that their leaky defence could ship a goal on Thursday, but we still expect the top-flight visitors to show enough quality to ease through to the second round.

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