Valencia went through, but it was Tavernes who enjoyed the evening. The amateur side made the most of their night at Mestalla, and by the end it felt like a farewell that deserved to be remembered, even if the result went the way of the Primera División club.
The match may also be the last Copa del Rey tie played at Mestalla, which gives the occasion extra weight. For a club like UE Tavernes, the appeal goes beyond the chance to face top-flight opposition. Such clubs have to earn their place through the preliminary rounds, so the reward is not just the fixture itself.
More than a fixture
The real prize, as the moment suggested, was the feeling of playing in the top flight for a night. Tavernes’ players and their supporters experienced that at Mestalla, a stadium that belonged to them for one evening.
The occasion has also raised a wider question. Perhaps this kind of night could persuade the Spanish football federation, the RFEF, to consider special arrangements for amateur clubs like Tavernes, recognising what such matches mean to the players and fans who make the journey to meet elite opposition.
Source: as.com
