Real Madrid Willing to Host Unionistas de Salamanca in Copa del Rey Amid Stadium Concerns

Real Madrid have offered Unionistas de Salamanca the chance to use the Bernabeu for the Copa del Rey clash on 22 January amid concerns over the latter’s stadium.

Unionistas’ Estadio Las Pistas del Helmantico has a capacity of just 3,000, approximately 27 times smaller than Los Blancos’ home ground. A lack of facilities at the former has drawn questions from the Spanish media, who deem the stadium unsuitable.

According to news outlet Bernabeu Digital, Zinedine Zidane’s side are more than happy to let their third-tier opposition keep the gate receipts from their encounter, should they choose to accept the offer.

It’s claimed Unionistas will agree to the switch of venue if they’re forced to change location by the footballing authorities.

In doing so, they would avoid having to use Estadio Helmantico – the home of their fierce rivals Salmantino – which is situated within 100 metres of Las Pistas.

Unionistas reached the last 32 of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a penalty-shootout win over Deportivo La Coruna, with that match taking place at their usual ground.

Real, meanwhile, had a bye into the next round of the tournament due to their Supercopa de Espana commitments.

Zidane guided them to victory in the competition, though they likewise needed a shootout to overcome Atletico Madrid in the final, having beaten Valencia the round prior.

This will be by far the biggest game in Unionistas’ seven-year history, with cameras capturing the players’ wild celebrations following the draw for this stage.

The club is jointly-owned by over 2,000 different members of their fan base, with each individual having their say on executive decisions.

In the Copa del Rey, 3rd tier UD Ibiza and Unionistas de Salamanca have been drawn at home to Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. The scenes after @UnionistasCF knocked out Deportivo la Coruña on penalties last week were lovely. Cup football is ace pic.twitter.com/Z93VlvMaNM

— Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) January 14, 2020

2018/19 was Unionistas’ first season in the third division of Spanish football after they secured three promotions in the space of four years to rise up the leagues and qualify for the Copa del Rey.

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