Match Preview and Team News: Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid will play against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville on Thursday night, with a spot in the semi-finals at stake.

Match Preview and Team News

• Date: Thursday, 5th February.
• Kick-off: 8pm BST.
• Venue: Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla.

Real Betis Team News

Real Betis will be without several players. Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is out due to a thigh injury he sustained during the Europa League match against PAOK, and there’s no set timeline for his recovery.

Isco has been recovering from a thigh problem since November and is not expected to be ready for this match. Hector Bellerin is also a doubt due to ongoing discomfort, while striker Juan “Cucho” Hernández is sidelined with a hamstring injury and is expected to return around mid-February. Sofyan Amrabat will also miss the game due to a foot injury.

Coach Pellegrini confirmed that goalkeeper Adrian will continue to start after good performances in earlier rounds of the tournament, and both Rodrigo Riquelme and Junior Firpo are back in the squad after minor injuries.

Atletico Madrid Team News

Atletico’s striker Alexander Sørloth suffered a head injury in the recent match against Levante and was taken to the hospital. Medical tests showed no serious injuries, but he will need to pass concussion protocols before returning.

Antoine Griezmann is uncertain for the match after suffering a minor thigh injury during training, but reports suggest he has improved and could be an option for this game after returning to full training.

Pablo Barrios, who had a minor issue in the match against Levante, has also trained fully and is available for selection. Atletico welcomed Ademola Lookman from Atalanta, increasing their squad depth; however, he might not feature in this match.

Form

Real Betis

Betis enters this match with two consecutive home victories, one against Feyenoord in the Europa League and another against Valencia in La Liga.

Their recent league win against Valencia (2-1 on February 1) showcased their strong offensive capabilities but revealed ongoing defensive challenges, as they have not kept a clean sheet in four matches.

In the Copa del Rey, Betis has been strong, winning all four matches so far and scoring at least two goals in each round to reach the quarter-finals.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico’s recent performance has been inconsistent, with two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last six games across all competitions, including league victories over Deportivo Alavés and Mallorca, and progress in the Copa del Rey thanks to a great free-kick from Antoine Griezmann.

In their last La Liga match, Atletico drew 0-0 with Levante, highlighting their struggles in front of goal. Despite the ups and downs, Atletico sits third in La Liga with 45 points from 22 games, trailing only Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Predicted Lineups

Real Betis: Adrian; Ruibal, Diego Llorente, Bartra, Rodriguez; Altimira, Roca; Antony, Deossa, Ezzalzouli; Avila.

Atletico Madrid: Musso; Ruggeri, Hancko, Pubill, Molina; Baena, Cardoso, Llorente, Simeone; Alvarez, Almada.

How to Watch Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid?

In the UK, the match will be live on ITV4 and available to stream on ITVX.

Read Also – On this day: Alan Shearer breaks Newcastle goal record

See More – Scout says Woltemade ‘isn’t the DNA of a Newcastle number nine’