Copa del Rey: A Real Cup of Fizz

Real Sociedad vs Real Betis

There’s going to be a battle of the ‘Reals’ in San Sebastian this week, when the Copa del Rey reaches the north coast of Spain.

It’s a clash to look forward to as 2020 Copa champions Real Sociedad host Real Betis at the Anoeta Stadium with the prize, a place in the 2022 semi-finals. According to the latest SBOTOP odds the winner of this fixture, Copa del Rey: Real Sociedad vs Real Betis, will have a good chance of picking up the trophy. Sociedad are at odds of 6.50 to lift the cup, behind only Real Madrid, while Betis are not far behind at 7.50. And they are both in the race for a top four La Liga place; Betis are currently third while Sociedad are sixth and six points behind, but with a game in hand.

Betis come into the game in better form, on the back of a cracking 4-1 win away to Espanyol, while Sociedad were held to a goalless draw at home to Getafe.

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With injuries to Nacho Monreal, Carlos Fernandez and Ander Barrenetxea, Sociedad head coach Imanol Alguacil is likely to start with a similar line-up to the one which beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 to reach the last eight; but the boss will want to see more attacking intent from his team which drew a blank against Getafe. La Real had 70 per cent of the ball but only registered nine shots, the same number as their visitors and three to two shots on goal. Alexander Sorloth was on target in the victory over Atletico and he’ll line up alongside Mikel Oyarzabal, who has scored three in the competition, with David Silva and Adnan Januzaj just behind and pulling the creative strings. Striker Alexander Isak will be in the reckoning as well, though he may have to settle for a place on the bench.

At the other end of the pitch, French centre back Robin le Normand is likely to sit alongside Aritz Elustondo at the heart of Sociedad’s defence and they will have plenty of work to do against a dangerous Betis attack.

Betis carry a multiple threat

Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis is in fine form, winning their last three games in superb style, beating high flying Sevilla 2-1 to reach this quarter-final, before whacking Alaves 4-0 and going on to put four past Espanyol in Barcelona. Experienced striker Borja Iglesias bagged a brace against Espanyol while Guido Rodriguez and William Jose added to the score line. Jose is on loan from Sociedad so he won’t feature in this match but striker Juanmi, who has been on fire for Los Verdiblancos surely will. With 12 goals he sits joint second in the race for the La Liga Golden Boot, though five behind Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. Juanmi scored against Alaves while Borja helped himself to another two.

Copa del Rey: Juanmi has already 12 goals scored for Real Betis — Real Betis’ Juanmi celebrates after scoring against Barcelona

Attacking midfielders Sergio Canales and Nabil Fekir add a further menace. Canales scored the winner in the Seville derby to see Betis through to the quarter finals while Fekir has two goals in the competition so far.

Sociedad know all about the Betis goal threat, having been run ragged by Los Verdiblancos last time they met. The problem they have is… who to watch?

History

Both teams have won the Copa del Rey previously, La Real were champions for the third time in 2020 while Real Betis have won the trophy twice, the last time in 2005.

The head-to-head Real Sociedad vs Real Betis results tell a story of two superbly matched sides and it’s Betis who have the slightest advantage with 17 wins to Sociedad’s 16, in all competitions since 1994. It was all square at 16 each until the 12^th of December when Pellegrini masterminded a 4-0 hammering of Sociedad, as Alex Moreno scored a brace and Juanmi and Fekir added two more.

Los Verdiblancos have a slight edge in terms of recent form too, winning four, drawing one and losing one of their last six games, while Sociedad have won three, drawn two and lost just the once.

But home advantage will give La Real more confidence; they have not lost to Real Betis on their last 14 visits to San Sebastian.

Betting Tip

	Real Sociedad vs Real Betis	1X2 Draw @ 3.30
	February 4, 3:00 (GMT+8)

The pre-match Real Sociedad vs Real Betis betting odds pitch Sociedad as favourites, slightly odds against at a price of 2.08 with Real Betis well in the game at 2.97. This match promises to be a fascinating encounter, Sociedad will be hungry for revenge and with home advantage they will go for the jugular, but Betis are bang in form and the hosts need to beware.