FC Andorra faces CE Europa in Copa Catalunya quarters with rotated squad and new signing debut

**FC Andorra faces Europa in Copa Catalunya quarterfinals with rotated squad and new signing debut**

FC Andorra will travel to Barcelona's Nou Sardenya stadium on Thursday evening (8pm) to face CE Europa in the Copa Catalunya quarterfinals, with coach Carles Manso opting for a heavily rotated lineup featuring players who have seen limited action.

Manso confirmed that Yeray Cabanzón, the latest signing on loan from Racing Santander, will make his debut as a right winger or attacking midfielder. "He will provide depth with his crosses and solutions in the final third," the coach said, adding that Cabanzón is expected to play a key role through the end of the season. New arrival Edgar González, however, is likely to sit out due to muscular discomfort.

The rotation aims to rest those who featured heavily in the recent league draw against Cultural Leonesa, which marked the end of the first half of Andorra's Segunda División campaign. Josep Cerdà, who impressed in that match, is in line to start. Manso described the approach as "a good opportunity to give minutes to those who haven't played much while protecting others."

CE Europa, fourth in Primera RFEF Group 2 under coach Aday Benítez, have lost just once in their last eight games. Key players include brothers Àlex and Jordi Cano, Òscar Vacas—son of former professional Agustín Vacas—Adnane Ghailan and Espanyol youth product Julián Mahicas. Manso praised them as "uncomfortable opponents with high tempo, direct play and good combinations," backed by a passionate home crowd at the artificial turf venue. Andorra players are accustomed to the surface after recent training at the National Stadium due to snow.

The club, owned by Gerard Piqué, values the competition highly, having won it in 2023 and 2024—adding to their 1994 triumph—for three titles total, matching Europa's haul (1997, 1998 and 2015). Last season, Andorra fell in the semifinals to Girona B.

Sitting 14th in Segunda División (Hypermotion) with 25 points from 21 games—six wins, seven draws and eight losses—Andorra trail Sunday's league opponents Mirandés by little margin. Manso sees the cup tie as useful preparation, with the squad motivated despite a full roster limiting further winter signings unless a player departs. "The market isn't closed yet," he noted.