Copa del Rey fixtures postponed after tragic Spain train crash as Espanyol name Eder Sarabia new manager

RFEF postpone 24 Copa del Rey fixtures after tragic train crash

The RFEF immediately issued an emergency postponement of all 24 Copa del Rey first-round fixtures scheduled for 28 October 2026 following a tragic train crash in Toledo, which left between 64 and 68 people dead and 100 to 179 injured, prompting Spain to declare three days of national mourning. The rescheduled fixtures have been slated for 29 October to 13 November 2026, with La Liga sides Valencia playing on 10 November, Real Betis on 12 November, and Celta Vigo on 13 November.

Espanyol appoint Eder Sarabia as manager to halt crisis

Espanyol officially appointed former Barcelona assistant Eder Sarabia as their new manager on 28 October 2026 to rescue their top-flight survival campaign. This followed the sacking of Manolo Gonzalez on 27 October 2026 after a humiliating 4-3 defeat to fourth-tier Sestao River Club in the Copa del Rey. That defeat dragged Espanyol down to 18th in La Liga, leaving them in the relegation zone with just eight points from 10 matches after losing five of their last six games.