Barca stunned

Third-division Novelda ousts Barcelona from Copa del Rey

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Antonio Madrigal netted a second-half hat trick Wednesday as third division club Novelda shocked FC Barcelona 3-2 in the first round of the Copa del Rey.

The Catalan powerhouse had taken an early lead through Brazilian striker Geovanni and Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme converted a 68th-minute penalty for Barcelona's second goal.

Barcelona, which was also eliminated last season in the first round by another third division team, Figueres, has not won a trophy in three seasons.

The defeat is the first setback for Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, who was reappointed by Barcelona in May after resigning two years earlier.

Five more first division clubs failed to reach the second round -- Racing de Santander, Real Sociedad, Rayo Vallecano, Espanyol and Villarreal.

Santander lost 3-2 at third division Real Union de Irun, winner of the Copa del Rey three times, its last coming in 1927.

Sociedad slumped 3-1 to second division Zaragoza, which was relegated last season after 24 years in the top flight.

Rayo lost 2-1 after extra time at third division Cultural Leonesa.

Espanyol, Copa del Rey winner in 2000, went down 1-0 to third division Alicante on a goal by striker Asier Garitano 10 minutes before time.

Villarreal lost 2-1 at third division Hercules on Tuesday, the defeat costing its coach Victor Munoz his job.

Real Madrid, Deportivo de La Coruna and Valencia all won through to the last 32 with varying degrees of difficulty.

Madrid swamped its fourth division neighbor San Sebastian de los Reyes 8-1.

Reserve strikers Jorge "Tote" Lopez and Javier Portillo each grabbed hat tricks after the powerhouse had fallen behind to a 13th-minute penalty by striker Luis Roa.

Argentine midfielder Santiago Solari and substitute Fernando Morientes also netted for Madrid, which lacked new signing Ronaldo and the rest of its biggest-name players.

Deportivo's Spanish international defender Cesar Martin scored with 14 minutes remaining as the Copa del Rey holder struggled to beat third-division Corralejo 2-1.

Earlier, Deportivo took the lead through Albert Luque's 11th-minute strike only for home striker Jose Maria Simon to level 18 minutes later.

League titlist Valencia beat third-division Gimnastic de Tarragona 5-4 on penalties after the teams had failed to produce a goal after 120 minutes.

Elsewhere, a goal nine minutes before time by midfielder Jose Maria Movilla gave Atletico de Madrid a 2-1 victory at third division Lanzarote.

Recreativo de Huelva's game was postponed pending an investigation by Spain's soccer federation into its opponent, Ciudad de Murcia.

In the earlier rounds of the competition, lower-league teams are awarded home advantage.

 

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