The Round of 16 match in the Copa del Rey between Barcelona and Real Betis will take place on January 15 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Barcelona vs. Real Betis: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez (Spain)
Matches – 12 (La Liga and Copa del Rey, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 64;
Average yellow cards per match – 5.3;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 27;
Penalties – 50%.
Predicted lineups for Barcelona vs. Real Betis
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny – Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, Gerard Martin – Frenkie de Jong, Eric Garcia – Pedri, Pablo Torre, Fermin Lopez – Robert Lewandowski.
Real Betis (4-2-3-1): Fran Vieites – Youssouf Sabaly, Nathan, Diego Llorente, Ricardo Rodriguez – Sergi Altimira, Joao Cardoso – Giovani Lo Celso, Abde Ezzalzouli, Isco – Vitor Hugo Roque.
Each team’s starting lineup is based on their previous match in this tournament.
Barcelona
The Catalan club is the most decorated in the Copa del Rey with 31 trophies. They last won this tournament four years ago, defeating Athletic Bilbao 4-0 in the final. Last season, Barcelona was eliminated by the same Athletic in the quarter-finals (2-2, extra time 0-2). This edition, Hans Flick's team started in the previous round, easily dispatching Barbastro away (4-0).
Due to injuries, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, defender Inigo Martinez, and midfielder Marc Bernal are out of action.
- In their last 13 Copa del Rey matches, the Catalans have lost only once in regular time (8 wins and 4 draws).
- At least three goals have been scored in 90 minutes in Barcelona's last five matches in this tournament.
- The team has scored two or more goals in regular time in 10 of their last 13 Copa del Rey encounters.
Real Betis
The Sevillians have already navigated through three rounds of the tournament. However, they have not faced any strong opponents on their way to this match, easily defeating Gevora (6-1), Sant Andreu (3-1), and Huesca (1-0). Last season, the club was stopped in the Round of 32 by Alaves (0-1), and they last played at this stage two years ago, losing to Osasuna. Betis won the Copa del Rey in the 2021/22 season, defeating Valencia in the final.
- The Sevillians have not lost in regular time in 23 of their last 24 Copa del Rey matches (16 wins and 7 draws).
- Both teams scored in 9 of Betis's last 11 matches in this tournament.
- The number "1" has appeared in the scoreline at the end of regular time in the club's last 11 Copa del Rey matches.
Barcelona vs. Real Betis: Match Prediction
The Catalans generally have no issues when facing the Sevillians. In the last 26 head-to-head encounters in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona has claimed 20 victories with 4 draws, losing only twice. Additionally, the hosts of the upcoming match have scored prolifically against this opponent. In 13 of the last 15 meetings across all competitions, Barcelona has scored three or more goals.
I anticipate that Hans Flick's side will once again prevail over Real Betis, demonstrating a high conversion rate of chances. The Sevillians consistently concede in the league and have not kept a clean sheet in their last 9 away matches in La Liga. It is also noteworthy that Betis has conceded in 7 of their last 8 away Copa del Rey matches, even against lower-tier opponents. Therefore, I favor the prediction – Barcelona individual total over 2.5 goals
