MADRID, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The third round of Spain's Copa del Rey concludes on Thursday with the top-flight sides again playing away from home.
Athletic Bilbao visits third-tier (RFEF I) Ourense, second-division Burgos hosts Getafe, and RFEF I side Murcia is at home to Betis.
Athletic's first match in the competition comes amid controversy sparked by comments from Ourense Mayor Jacome Gonzalo, who described the club as "xenophobic" (despite having the Williams brothers as its standout players) and has insisted on calling the team "el Bilbao,".
Ourense has already knocked Oviedo and Girona out of the competition, while Athletic returns to Galicia after a 2-0 defeat away to Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Betis will be favorites away to a Murcia side that has improved sharply in recent weeks, with the added incentive that the final will be played in Seville, Betis' hometown.
Burgos against Getafe promises to be a tight affair between two sides that tend not to give their rivals many chances. Burgos is sixth in the second division and aiming for a return to the Spanish top flight after an absence of more than 30 years, and a key factor will be how many regular first-team starters each coach fields.
Getafe has a poor record in the Copa del Rey and needed extra time in the second round to get past fourth-tier (RFEF II) Navalcarnero. ■
