Atlético Melilla vs Pinatar - Copa del Rey

A fascinating Copa del Rey chapter awaits on October 4, 2026 when Atlético Melilla take on Pinatar at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. Manchester United play in Gothenburg on Saturday as they take on Paris-Saint Germain in their fourth pre-season fixture.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Copa del Rey contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. Pinatar's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Fulham are starting to do some business now that Alvaro Arbeloa's feet are under the table as new head coach.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Atlético Melilla will look to impose their style on home soil, while Pinatar are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. Speaking in his unveiling press conference on Thursday, he said: Bayern Munich had attempted to sign Benjamin Sesko ahead of Manchester United, but a deal proved too expensive, according to cfbayerninsider.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Dundee defender Ryan Astley has insisted Duncan Ferguson would be a great pick to become the next Scotland manager, having worked with him at Everton - Daily Record.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 1-1. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Copa del Rey standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. It is likely City adopt a more proactive pressing system higher up the pitch in order to exert territorial control on opponents.