Early rounds of cup tourney more difficult?

[Temidayo_]

Early rounds of cups for me used to have mediocre, 30%, 40% inferior teams I whooped easily. Now (for about 3 seasons now) has teams of a similar quality I struggle to get through and have actually sent me packing some of the time. Anyone else experienced this, or is this just one of those things that change as you ascend up the levels?

[pcmacdaniel]

It gets harder as you ascend up the levels. Less abandoned clubs.

[dave1311]

It gets harder as you ascend up the levels. Less abandoned clubs.

Correct. And also you will find that you’re playing teams 2-3 levels above as well if you have a strong squad.

[celozg]

good balance, last 2 seasons I play against teams that are 1 level stronger than me, good top eleven, they say that it does not affect who will win, hahahaha, top eleven noobs

[KenoticFC]

Maybe lowering the team quality can do the trick but I can't say much about how things work in really high levels.

[girl gooner]

Early rounds of cups for me used to have mediocre, 30%, 40% inferior teams I whooped easily. Now (for about 3 seasons now) has teams of a similar quality I struggle to get through and have actually sent me packing some of the time. Anyone else experienced this, or is this just one of those things that change as you ascend up the levels?

Yep ! Most notably this season in the Champions league. Out in Group after 3 finals on the bounce.

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[mr.deadpool]

if there is abandoned clubs they should give a bypass opportunity instead of playing with high levels opponent

[ibangali]

Early rounds of cups for me used to have mediocre, 30%, 40% inferior teams I whooped easily. Now (for about 3 seasons now) has teams of a similar quality I struggle to get through and have actually sent me packing some of the time. Anyone else experienced this, or is this just one of those things that change as you ascend up the levels?

We are in the same boat

This season, I see higher lvl manger but lower lvl club; like manager lvl 29 club lvl 13, almost equal q with me. Although I spent lots of green this season to increase my players q. specially my mr+amr+st with ck sp is 23 yo and amc+aml+st 23 yo; slow on progress, eat lots of green; this season will be last season for them; both are very good players but green expensive

I face him round 16:

[gogs67]

Maybe lowering the team quality can do the trick but I can't say much about how things work in really high levels.

No, that doesn't really help..
I rebuild my team every season (usually keeping 3 or 4 top players from the previous) so I always have to start the season with a low quality ( 2 or 3* team)
I will play teams my level or the level below in the first round, no one is stronger than 5*, BUT they are almost always seeded so that all the strong teams play the weaker ones.
I check every season and without fail out of the 32 first round games usually around 25-30 of them will be strong v's weak (5* v's 2 or 3*), with the others made up of strong v's strong, or the few 4* v's 4*, as the server has obviously run out of weak opponents to match with.