Do the favourites have to stretch themselves in Andalusia?
It has been four years since the Copa del Rey competition was fundamentally changed. Back then, the early rounds were played in first and second legs to determine which team would advance, but now the two-match rule is only used from the semifinals onwards. Before that, everything is decided in individual matches, which of course also increases the risk of possible surprises.
A strong 90 minutes would also help the respective outsiders on Wednesday evening, for example, when various second-round matches are on the agenda. Among others, it comes to the duel Coria vs. Real Sociedad. Odds of just 1.11 at the top are available for betting on a win for the first division team from the Basque country, which makes further questions about the role of David and Goliath in this match superfluous.
For the hosts, of course, it is an absolute highlight. The fourth-division team, which was even one division lower last year, has already eliminated a stronger team in the first round with Fuenlabrada and now wants to land a real sensational coup in front of its home crowd. Between Coria and Real Sociedad, however, a prediction on the underdog is associated with an extreme amount of risk, because qualitatively there are worlds between these two clubs.
Coria – Statistics & current form
In beautiful Andalusia, more precisely in Coria del Rio, is the home of Coria Club de Fútbol. Only die-hard Spanish football fans are likely to be familiar with this club, as the southerners have so far not made it any higher than the third division. The small club from near Seville has also rarely qualified for the Spanish King’s Cup. The last of only two participations dates back to the 1999/2000 season, when they also made it to the second round.
In view of this not particularly impressive club history, you don’t need to be a prophet to realise that the biggest match in the club’s history awaits the fourth-division club. They earned this match with a surprising 2-0 home win in the first round against third division side Fuenlabrada.
For the Andalusians, it is the biggest highlight in the club’s history
But the fact that the Yellow and Whites go into this cup round as one of the biggest outsiders is also underlined by the fact that they only managed to secure their return to the Segunda RFEF Grupo 5 in the summer. Coach Alberto Urquía’s team is currently competing against Atletico Madrid’s reserves and less illustrious names such as CD Estepona, UD Montijo and Don Benito. After 14 match days, the team is in seventh place. They are currently four points off the play-off places.
The team is also in good form at the moment, having picked up seven points in the last three league games. Among other things, they were able to wrest a draw from leaders Melilla. In fact, the southern Spaniards only failed to score in two of their 14 matches. At home, they scored at least one goal in all seven matches.
Since it must also be taken into account that the fourth division team, unlike their La Liga opponents, has not had a break and is in the thick of the action, we think it is not unrealistic for the lower-ranked team to score in the match of the century. We would definitely keep an eye on the odds on ‘Both score’ in the Coria vs Real Sociedad duel.
Predicted line-up of Coria:
Miro – Rodriguez-Caso, Mahillo, Mateo, Cera – Hernandez, Dero – Mercadal, Gomez, Luque – Bernardo
Last matches played by Coria:
Segunda Federacion – Group 5
11/12/2022 – CD Coria 1 – 0 Villanovense
04/12/2022 – CD Atletico Paso 0 – 2 CD Coria
27/11/2022 – CD Coria 1 – 1 Melilla
20/11/2022 – Navalcarnero 2 – 0 CD Coria
Copa del Rey
13/11/2022 – CD Coria 2 – 0 Fuenlabrada
Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form
For Real Sociedad’s officials, fans and players, the World Cup break came at rather a convenient time. After an extremely promising start with only two defeats in the first ten match days, the form curve showed a downward trend in the autumn.
Just four points were earned in the four most recent league games. The only victory in this review came in the last match before the start of the World Cup at FC Sevilla. This emotional 2-1 victory also meant that the Basques “hibernated” in third place and were able to look at the table with pleasure over the course of a month.
Real Sociedad are big fans of the Copa
On Wednesday, the San Sebastian team’s journey takes them to Andalusia once again. Just how comfortable the Basques are in this competition, apart from the cup triumph from the 2019/20 season, is also shown by the fact that from 2018 to 2022 they always went at least as far as the last 16. In the previous season, the team reached the quarter-finals.
The start to the current cup season went according to plan, although coach Immanol Alguacil’s team conceded a goal in their opening match against the amateurs of CD Cazalegas. Although this did not change anything in the 4:1 victory, it is striking that RSSS has not been able to play to nil in six consecutive matches and this despite the fact that the defence is actually the biggest trump card of the third-placed team, which was the first to win a direct ticket to the last 16 in the Europa League in the spring.
As we now assume that there might be some changes in the starting eleven in the first competitive match after the World Cup break and that the coach will use some supplementary players, we would not be surprised if the prediction on goals from both teams pays off in the unequal duel Coria vs. Real Sociedad. The double chance 1X after 45 minutes is also worth considering. In the end, however, the higher quality should prevail.
Predicted line-up of Real Sociedad:
Zubiaurre – Rico, Elustondo, Zubeldia, Sola – Turrientes, Illarramendi, Guevara – Mario, Karrikaburu, Navarro
Last matches played by Real Sociedad:
Friendly club matches
17/12/2022 – Leeds 2 – 1 Real Sociedad
10/12/2022 – Real Sociedad 1 – 1 Rayo Vallecano
Copa del Rey
14/11/2022 – CD Cazalegas 1 – 4 Real Sociedad
La Liga
10/11/2022 – Sevilla FC 1 – 2 Real Sociedad
06/11/2022 – Real Sociedad 1 – 1 Valencia
Coria – Real Sociedad Direct comparison / H2H balance
Not surprisingly, this is the first time these two clubs have faced each other in a competitive match. Accordingly, there is no head-to-head record that could affect the distribution of odds in the three-way market between Coria and Real Sociedad.
Coria – Real Sociedad Tip
A very clear starting position prevails in the Copa del Rey second round clash between Coria and Real Sociedad. The betting odds are one-sided, which is not really surprising considering the constellation of a fourth-division promoted team against the third-placed team in La Liga. Qualitatively and in terms of experience, there are worlds between these clubs.
Nevertheless, the timing of this encounter poses at least some danger for the favourites, after all, the Basques have not played a competitive match in over a month, while the Andalusians were also in regular action during the World Cup in Qatar. It is also worth noting that Coria eliminated a higher-ranked club at home in the first round of the tournament.
Because we also have to state that there have always been big surprises in the Spanish King’s Cup in the past, we will forego a handicap bet in favour of the Alguacil team and instead bet on both teams scoring in regular time before the match between Coria and Real Sociedad.
