Alzira vs Athletic Club predictions and match preview for Sunday’s Copa del Rey fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as the Basque giants begin their cup campaign.
| Date | Sunday 13th November 2022 |
| Kick-Off | 21:00 (local time) |
| Stadium | Luis Suñer Picó |
| Competition | Copa del Rey 1st Round |
Alzira vs Athletic Club Preview
The weekend’s Copa del Rey 1st Round action concludes on Sunday night at the Estadio Luis Suñer Picó, located 40 km south of Valencia in the small town of Alzira. Athletic Club are in town with Ernesto Valverde’s side hoping it is the start of a long cup run.
UD Alzira ply their trade in the 4th tier which makes them slightly more established than many of the teams that top flight sides are up against this weekend. They did spend one season in the Segunda Division back in the 1980’s but have been in the 4th level since 2011, even allowing for the restructuring of Spanish football in recent years.
This season is not going so well though with the club currently in the relegation zone in their group in the Segunda RFEF. They’ve lost 6 of their 10 league games and currently sit between Mallorca B and Olot in their group. However they have showcased an appetite for cup football with a successful run to the Final of the Copa Federacion where they lost to Arenteiro earlier this month which offered them a route into this competition.
Athletic Club, like many top flight sides, will be expected to make changes. Nico Williams and Unai Simon have been named in the Spain squad for the World Cup but given the lack of foreign players, most of Athletic’s squad will not be in Qatar and therefore Ernesto Valverde won’t need to worry too much about players potentially picking injuries here.
With no European involvement, the Copa del Rey is likely to be a priority again for Athletic and they have reached two Finals already this decade. A bright start to life back under Valverde’s guidance makes this quite a positive time to be an Athletic fan and they will look to exert their authority on this game from the first whistle.
Score Prediction: Alzira 0-4 Athletic Club
Athletic were impressive 3-0 winners over Real Valladolid in LaLiga in midweek and they have a number of players who are hungry for minutes and will be looking to make an impression here. They should make some changes, but their lack of World Cup players suggests it will be a relatively strong XI and they ought to win the game comfortably.
PLEASE NOTE – Our Copa del Rey predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
