Both Real Betis and Atletico Madrid would want to keep their Copa del Rey dreams alive when they square up against each other in the quarter-finals at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla.
The home team are fifth in La Liga, with 35 points in their 22 matches. They have been quite inconsistent this season. The Andalusian outfit have only won two out of their last five league games, and they are seven points behind fourth-placed Villarreal, who also have a game in hand.
Real Betis defeated Elche 2-1 in the round of 16, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 2-1 win over Valencia. Los Verdiblancos have won the competition on three occasions, most recently in 2022, and they will be looking for their fourth triumph.
Meanwhile, the visitors are third on the table with 45 points in their 22 outings. While Diego Simeone’s men were expected to challenge for the league title, that looks unlikely as they are already 10 points behind the leaders, Barcelona. Atletico Madrid are heading into this fixture on the back of a difficult run where they have only won one out of their last four.
Los Rojiblancos defeated Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 in the round of 16 of the competition. While it was not their best performances, they did get the job done. Of late, Diego Simeone’s team have not been at their best, but they are still expected to come out on top here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
The home team will be without the services of Junior Firpo (thigh), Isco (thigh), Sofyan Amrabat (foot), and Juan Hernandez (hamstring). Meanwhile, Hector Bellerin and Giovani Lo Celso are both major doubts for this outing.
Real Betis will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Adrian will be in goal. Aitor Ruibal and Ricardo Rodriguez will feature as the full-backs, while Diego Llorente will pair up with Marc Bartra in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Marc Roca will start alongside Sergi Altimira in the centre of the park. The Real Betis central midfield duo will form the double pivot, who will look to protect the backline and ensure the Atletico Madrid midfielders do not run the show.
Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli will feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Nelson Deossa will take up the number ten role, while Ezequiel Avila will lead the line for Real Betis against Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Ruibal, Diego Llorente, Bartra, Rodriguez; Altimira, Roca; Antony, Deossa, Ezzalzouli; Avila
The visitors will be without the services of Alexander Sorloth (head), Rodrigo Riquelme (muscle) and Pablo Barrios (muscle). Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann (hamstring) remains a major doubt. Ademola Lookman has joined the club in the winter window, but he is unlikely to make his debut in this fixture.
Atletico Madrid will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Juan Musso will take charge in goal. Matteo Ruggeri and Nahuel Molina will feature as the full-backs, while David Hancko will pair up with Marc Pubill in the heart of the defence.
Alex Baena and Giuliano Simeone will feature out wide on the flanks in midfield, while Johnny Cardoso will line up alongside Marcos Llorente in a more central role. The midfield four will look to ensure they dominate the proceedings.
In the final third, Julian Alvarez will partner with Thiago Almada. The duo will look to make the most out of the opportunities and ensure they secure an easy win for Atletico Madrid against Real Betis on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Musso; Ruggeri, Hancko, Pubill, Molina; Baena, Cardoso, Llorente, Simeone; Alvarez, Almada
The 24-year-old summer signing has only had limited game time at his new club because of injuries and competition for places. However, in the limited opportunities he has had, the Argentine international has certainly made an impact.
In just over 500 minutes of La Liga action, Almada has three goals and an assist to his name. The young winger is yet to make an impact in other competitions, and this game against Real Betis is a big opportunity for him.
Atletico Madrid’s experience in knockout football could prove decisive in this quarter-final clash. Despite their recent dip in form, Diego Simeone’s side still boasts greater depth and tactical discipline, and they are likely to approach this tie with a controlled, pragmatic mindset.
If Atletico Madrid can establish midfield dominance early and remain compact out of possession, they should be able to limit Real Betis’s attacking threat and grow into the game. The home side, however, will not go down without a fight, especially given their recent upturn in results and past success in the competition.
The Andalusian outfit are expected to start aggressively and look to exploit Atletico Madrid’s defensive absences. But over 90 minutes, the visitors’ quality in the final third and ability to manage big moments should tilt the balance in their favour, setting them up for a place in the semi-finals. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the away team.
