A high-scoring clash between two in-form teams?
On 3 April 2021, Real Sociedad belatedly won the overall Copa del Rey 2020. Now the Basques could once again reach the semi-finals of Spain’s most important cup competition, but they face a tough challenge in Betis Sevilla. Real Sociedad already lost to the Andalusians last season in the round of 16.
Now the men from San Sebastián are playing in their own stadium, but Real Betis are the second best away team in La Liga at the Anoeta. It is therefore all the more surprising that the odds in the run-up to the match between Real Sociedad and Betis Sevilla are so clearly in favour of the home side.
The Andalusians come to San Sebastián with plenty of momentum. Real Betis have won all of their last three competitive games on 10-2 goals and also celebrated a convincing 4-1 away win at Espanyol Barcelona on the last matchday in La Liga. The Basques have also recovered recently and are unbeaten in five games.
Accordingly, it could be close in this duel. The best value for Real Sociedad against Betis Sevilla is to bet on over 2.5 goals. The goal-happy Verdiblancos have already scored four goals against the Basques in league action.
Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form
Real Sociedad celebrated their first Copa del Rey title win since 1987 when they won the overall Copa del Rey in 2020, which gave the traditional Basque club a big boost. Under successful coach Imanol Alguacil, the start to the 2021/22 season was very promising.
For a long time, the Txuri-Urdin (in German: die Weiß-Blauen) were in the fight for the Spanish championship, before a slump occurred in the autumn. Between matchday 14 and 19, the Basques went winless in six consecutive league games, picking up only two points out of a possible 18 and scoring just two goals.
Still unbeaten in five competitive matches in 2022
Although the team from San Sebastian has stabilised again in the new year and remained unbeaten in all five of their 2022 competitive matches (three wins, two draws), the Txuri-Urdin have slipped to sixth place in La Liga.
A good chance of reaching Europe would therefore be to win the Copa del Rey again, in which they would only be two wins away from the trophy if they made it past the quarter-finals.
Weakest home attack in La Liga
Betting oddsmakers see the “Royal Football Society” with the advantage in this cup match. However, it should not be forgotten that the Basques, who eliminated Atlético Madrid 2-0 in the Copa del Rey round of 16, have only won five of their eleven home games in league play and, most importantly, have only scored seven goals in their own stadium, which means they go into this quarter-final with the weakest home attack in La Liga.
Predicted Real Sociedad line-up:
Remiro – Rico – Le Normand – Zubeldia – Zaldúa – Guridi – Guevara – Alcântara – Oyarzabal – Januzaj – Sörloth
Last matches played by Real Sociedad:
LaLiga
01/23 2022 – San Sebastian 0 – 0 Getafe
Copa del Rey
01/19 2022 – San Sebastian 2 – 0 Atletico Madrid
LaLiga
01/08 2022 – San Sebastian 1 – 0 Celta Vigo
Copa del Rey
01/05 2022 – Leganes 2 – 3 San Sebastian
LaLiga
01/02 2022 – Deportivo Alaves 1 – 1 San Sebastian
Betis Sevilla – Statistics & current form
Since Manuel Pellegrini took over as coach at Real Betis Balompié in the autumn of 2020, the Andalusians’ form curve has shown a clear upward trend. In his first year under the Chilean, the Sevilla club was only stopped in the Copa del Rey in the quarter-finals on penalties and finished sixth in La Liga.
Now the Verdiblancos are once again in the round of the best eight teams in the cup and can also dream of participating in the Champions League for the first time since the 2005/06 season. After twelve wins from 22 league games, Real Betis are in third place.
Won six of their eleven away league games
The momentum of the Andalusians is also huge at the moment, having already knocked out their hated city rivals Sevilla FC 2-1 in the round of 16 and then celebrating two wins in a row in league play with a total of 8:1 goals.
All in all, the Verdiblancos are now unbeaten in five league games (four wins, one draw), and Pellegrini’s team has been particularly strong away from home. Betis Sevilla have already won six of their eleven games away from home in league play.
Second best attack in La Liga
One reason for the Andalusian traditional club’s flight of fancy can be discovered in their offensive penetrating power. The Verdiblancos have already scored 41 goals in 22 league games, which is the second-best offensive value in La Liga behind leaders Real Madrid.
With this in mind, it makes a lot of sense to bet on a high-scoring encounter and bet on over 2.5 goals for Real Sociedad against Betis Sevilla. With an empty medical team, Manuel Pellegrini will be able to draw from the full squad and send his best team to the Basque country.
Predicted line-up of Betis Sevilla:
Bravo – Moreno – González – Pezzella – Sabaly – Carvalho – Rodríguez – Juanmi – Canales – Fekir – Iglesias
Last matches played by Betis Sevilla:
LaLiga
01/21 2022 – Espanyol 1 – 4 Real Betis
01/18 2022 – Real Betis 4 – 0 Deportivo Alaves
Copa del Rey
01/16 2022 – Real Betis 2 – 1 Sevilla
LaLiga
01/09 2022 – Rayo Vallecano 1 – 1 Real Betis
Copa del Rey
01/05 2022 – Real Valladolid 0 – 3 Real Betis
Real Sociedad – Betis Sevilla Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 44 – 28 – 38
There have been a total of 110 meetings between the two teams so far and with 44 victories Real Sociedad only just leads the direct comparison. However, the Basques have only won one of their last five competitive matches against Real Betis (one draw, three defeats). In league action, they suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat at Sevilla on 12 December 2021.
Real Sociedad – Betis Sevilla Tip
For Real Sociedad against Betis Sevilla, the overall prediction goes slightly to the visitors, who are currently in a Champions League starting spot, especially because of their attacking qualities. The Andalusians also come to the Anoeta Stadium as the second best away team in La Liga, where the Basques have only won five of their eleven home games and have the weakest home attack in the Spanish league with only seven goals.
After the recent 2-0 win over Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey round of 16, the Basques’ home win is nevertheless not out of the question, which is why it is most worth betting on a high-scoring game in the end, also in view of the nature of a cup match.
