Copa del Rey final preview: Real Betis favourites to record first cup win since 2005

Spain’s premier cup competition, the Copa del Rey, has reached its concluding round and for only the second time in 11 years neither Barcelona or Real Madrid have made the final, with Real Betis and Valencia set to clash at the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville.

We look ahead to Saturday’s final below.

Real Betis out to cap excellent season

Real Betis are looking to record a third Copa del Rey success, and a first since their 2005 victory over Osasuna. On course to the final, Betis were forced to go to extra-time to beat third division CF Talavera before cruising through several rounds until the last 16 where they defeated bitter city rivals Sevilla 2-1. They booked their spot in the final with a 3-2 aggregate win over Rayo Vallecano.

Betis have had a good season, having managed a run to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, while they currently lie fifth in La Liga with a Champions League spot still in sight. They look set to better last term’s sixth-placed finish, achieved in their first season under Manuel Pellegrini.

Only Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have outscored Los Verdiblancos this season. Left winger Juanmi and striker Borja Iglesias have notched 18 and 17 goals respectively so far and both will be serious threats to the Valencia defence.

Betis hold the advantage in recent meetings with Valencia, having won three of their last five encounters. The most recent of those came in La Liga this season, where they ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. However, their record against Valencia in the Copa del Rey makes for harder reading as they are yet to win in four meetings.

Given their recent form, which has seen them lose only once in their last seven games, and their dominance against Valencia this season, it’s unsurprising that Pellegrini’s men start as the 11/10 favourites to win the match in 90 minutes. They are also just 4/7 to lift the trophy.

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Valencia to make up for league woes?

Valencia have won the Copa del Rey eight times, most recently when they defeated Barcelona in the 2019 final. Los Che have had a reasonably easy passage to the final, beating lower league opposition in the first four rounds of the competition. They faced a tough opponent in Athletic Bilbao – a team that had knocked out both Barcelona and Real Madrid – in the semis, winning a tight encounter 2-1 on aggregate to book their place in the final.

José Bordalás’ side have endured a mixed season in the league, never really threatening to advance beyond mid-table security. They currently sit 10th, having lost 11 and drawn 12 games this season.

A leaky defence has been the cause of many of their troubles as they have conceded 48 goals, making their defence the fifth worst in the league. However, it has been a different story in the cup, and they have conceded only four times on the way to the final.

Valencia’s last win against Real Betis came over two years ago in La Liga, but before that they had enjoyed much more success, winning 12 of 22 meetings in all competitions since 2008.

Valencia will have to take confidence from their cup performances this season if they are to upset the odds in Saturday’s final, and they are 5/4 underdogs to lift the trophy and an even bigger price of 5/2 to win in 90 minutes.

A combination of Betis’ scoring prowess and Valencia’s struggling back line could signal goals so the price of EVENS for there to be 2.5 goals or more in the match might offer some value.

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