Real Betis vs Athletic Club predictions and match preview for Thursday’s Spanish Copa del Rey Quarter Final. Read on for analysis and a score prediction as two in-form teams clash.
- DATE: Wednesday 3rd February 2021
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: Benito Villamarin
- COMPETITION: Copa del Rey Quarter Final
Real Betis vs Athletic Club Preview
The final Copa del Rey Quarter-Final takes place on Thursday at the Benito Villamarin and it’s a tough one to call as 2020 finalists Athletic travel to face in-form Real Betis. Both sides will be hungry to secure a place in the last four with the visitors having particularly discovered a taste for the cups over the last 12 months.
Betis though will be eyeing up a hometown final, which could potentially be against city rivals Sevilla who are already through to the last four. A lot has to happen before we get to that point but it’s not a wildly unlikely scenario with both clubs currently in really good form.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis are unbeaten in 2021. While not always unconvincing, they’ve developed a winning habit and they’ve edged two close games over the past week at home. Borja Iglesias fired in a brace to see off Real Sociedad in Extra Time in the last round of the Copa del Rey and the panda was on target again as Betis saw off Osasuna 1-0 on Monday night in LaLiga to climb to 7th in the table. The striker has finally rediscovered some much needed confidence and he’ll certainly be one to keep an eye on here.
Speaking of rejuvenated forces, Athletic Club suddenly look a much more formidable prospect for opposing teams since the appointment of Marcelino. Despite a really tough opening set of fixtures, including three games against Barcelona inside his first month at the helm in Bilbao, Athletic have been playing well and getting results under their new boss.
Marcelino is of course still the holder of this competition having guided Valencia to the trophy in 2019 and he’ll get the chance to win at least one more Copa this season with Athletic still to play the delayed 2020 Final. With mid-table solidity in LaLiga, the Basque giants can really afford to target the cups and they’ll fancy their chances of adding more silverware before the year is out having already lifted the Supercopa.
Real Betis vs Athletic Club Predictions
Score Prediction: Real Betis 1-1 Athletic Club (Betis to win in Extra Time)
This is a really tough one to call as both teams are in pretty good form. Although lower down in LaLiga, under their new boss Athletic are the more convincing side but if this does go to Extra Time, that may just favour Betis.
Marcelino’s side had a really intense January with eight matches, four of which were against Madrid/Barca where they had to suffer without the ball for long periods, so fatigue could become a factor. Betis have the experience of seeing off one of the two 2020 finalists in Extra Time last week and they perhaps have slightly more options in terms of players who can come off the bench and influence the game.
Copa del Rey Betting Tips (18+)
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Read our latest Copa del Rey match previews.
