The Biggest ‘Cupsets’ Across Europe Throughout the 2025/26 Season: Part 2
As the European football season recently concludes, we delve into the ten most astonishing ‘cupsets’ that occurred during the 2025/26 campaign. This second part of our two-part review highlights the unforeseen upsets in cup competitions across Europe this past season. For those interested, the first part is available for reading.
Atletico Baleares 1-0 Espanyol – Copa del Rey Second Round
The Copa del Rey serves as an ideal opener to our review of shocking cup results. This year’s tournament saw its fair share of surprising eliminations, with notable upsets including Real Madrid’s defeat to Albacete and Ourense CF’s victory over Real Oviedo. However, the most remarkable upset is undoubtedly Atletico Baleares’ triumph over Espanyol.
For context, Atletico Baleares has only participated in the Segunda Division for four seasons, all of which occurred during the 1950s and 60s. In their history since 1963/64, they’ve fluctuated between the third and fifth tiers of Spanish football. Based in Mallorca, they have made it to the last-16 just three times before this season.
Despite dominating play, Espanyol, who were positioned sixth in LaLiga at the time, could not convert their chances into goals. In the second half, Jaume Tovar scored for Baleares, putting the underdogs ahead. Even though Espanyol had ample time to respond, they were unable to break through Baleares’ defense. Consequently, Espanyol faced another early exit in the Copa del Rey, having also been eliminated in the second round the previous year and ultimately finishing 11th in LaLiga. Meanwhile, Baleares advanced to the next round before losing to Atletico Madrid, and they finished second in their league group, earning significant recognition for their performances.
Kahta 02 Spor 3-1 Kasimpasa – Turkish Cup Third Round
Next, we shift focus to Turkey, where the initial rounds of the Turkish Cup stirred some chaos. Kasimpasa, a long-standing participant in the top division, met fifth-division club Kahta 02 Spor in what many considered a one-sided affair.
Kasimpasa opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the match with a goal from Bahtiyar Ozden. However, Kahta quickly responded, with Yusuf Firat equalizing shortly after and Ahmet Tuna Akli netting to give the home side the lead before half-time. The second half saw Kasimpasa desperately seeking an equalizer but failing to convert their efforts, culminating in Berkay Ceylan sealing the upset in stoppage time. Despite this victory, Kahta’s cup journey ended in defeat against second-tier Boluspor, though they managed to secure their position in the fifth division.
Dunfermline 0-0 Falkirk (4-2 on Penalties) – Scottish Cup Semi-Finals
Scotland witnessed a captivating cup run this season, exemplified by Dunfermline’s extraordinary journey to the Scottish Cup final, where they bested three Premiership sides. Their semi-final victory against Falkirk, decided by a penalty shootout, marked a significant achievement. Despite possessing less possession, Dunfermline managed to hold Falkirk to a draw during regular time and triumph in penalties, with Falkirk’s two initial misses proving decisive.
This win marked Dunfermline’s first final appearance in 19 years, although they ultimately fell to Celtic in the final. Both teams can take pride in their seasons, with Dunfermline narrowly missing promotion following their playoff exit, while Falkirk reached the championship playoffs despite finishing last.
Avranches 1-1 Brest (4-2 on Penalties) – Coupe de France Round of 64
The Coupe de France witnessed a remarkable upset as Stade Brestois, once a UEFA Champions League contender, faced fourth-division club Avranches. Down to ten men early in the match, Brest struggled to regain their footing. Although they managed to equalize after Avranches took the lead, the match ended in penalties, where Brest’s Romain Del Castillo missed, allowing Avranches to celebrate their historic advancement.
Although Avranches suffered a heavy defeat in the next round, their win over Brest remained a highlight of their season, as they finished mid-table in National 2.
Tromsdalen 6-1 Sandefjord – NM Cup Third Round
One of the most unusual outcomes of the season occurred in Norway, where third-tier Tromsdalen triumphed over top-tier Sandefjord in a staggering 6-1 victory. Tromsdalen, having never reached the top flight, capitalized on Sandefjord’s decision to field a weakened team due to scheduling issues. Despite Sandefjord’s top-flight experience, they were overwhelmed by Tromsdalen’s relentless attack, which propelled them to a fairy tale victory.
Honourable Mentions
This review concludes with two noteworthy performances. First, in the Polish Cup, third-tier Chojniczanka Chojnice eliminated Ekstraklasa club Korona Kielce on penalties after a thrilling draw. Secondly, in Romania, Sanatatea Cluj, also from the third division, secured a surprising win against Liga I’s Unirea Slobozia after a tense shootout.
Both instances highlight the unpredictable nature of cup competitions, where underdogs often triumph against the odds, bringing excitement and surprises to the footballing landscape.
