UD Almería are set to mark their silver anniversary in the Copa del Rey, as Tuesday’s fixture gets under way their 25th consecutive appearance in Spain’s premier domestic cup competition. Since the 2002/03 season, the Rojiblancos have experienced just about everything the tournament has to offer: from outstanding campaigns that took them to the semi-finals and quarter-finals to some disappointing early exits. Thankfully, the latter have been relatively few and far between. More often than not, the Indálicos have progressed to the Round of 32, which they have reached on ten occasions, or the Round of 16, which they have reached four times, with some memorable cup ties along the way.

The Club’s finest achievement came in the 2010/11 season, when UD Almería reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by FC Barcelona. On their way to the last four, they had eliminated top-flight opposition in Real Sociedad, RCD Mallorca and Deportivo de La Coruña.

Their next-best run came in 2020/21, when they reached the quarter-finals. Away wins over L’Hospitalet and Numancia saw them through the opening rounds before LaLiga opposition awaited at home. UD Almería thrashed Deportivo Alavés 5-0, then overcame Osasuna in a goalless draw before winning a thrilling penalty shoot-out, with Fernando emerging as one of the heroes. Their journey ultimately ended against Sevilla FC, who secured a 1-0 victory over the Rojiblancos just as they began to dream of another semi-final appearance.

There have also been some notable setbacks, including first-round exits away to UD Tamaraceite in Las Palmas during the 2019/20 campaign and to CD Arenteiro in Carballiño, Ourense, in 2022/23. Córdoba CF and Numancia also knocked UD Almería out at the first hurdle in the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons, respectively.

Last season, in 2025/26, UD Almería began by eliminating Lorca, only to fall in the second round to CD Eldense, who were then competing in Primera RFEF. It was a disappointing outcome following the previous campaign’s impressive cup run, which featured a spectacular 4-1 victory over Sevilla FC in the Round of 32. In the Round of 16, however, Leganés, then a LaLiga side, came away from the UD Almería Stadium with a 3-2 win.

The Rojiblancos’ 25th Copa del Rey campaign gets under way this Tuesday, 27 October, with an away fixture against UD Castellonense in the Valencia-based town of Villanueva de Castellón. Their opponents are enjoying an impressive start to life in Segunda RFEF, having earned promotion to the fourth tier and established themselves among the leading sides in Group III. After seven matchdays, UD Castellonense are sitting in the play-off places and will provide a challenging test for UD Almería as they look to begin their silver anniversary campaign with a win.