The 2022 Copa del Rey final is set to take place at the Estadio La Cartuja on Saturday, as two-time winners Real Betis will be taking on Valencia, who have won the competition on eight occasions.
Real Betis saw off Rayo Vallecano 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the competition to progress to the final, while Valencia defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 over two legs to advance.
Manuel Pellegrini have won the Copa del Rey on just two previous occasions, lifting the trophy in 1977 and 2005, while they have been the runners-up on a further two occasions in 1931 and 1997.
The Green and Whites recorded a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the first leg of their semi-final, and a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their last-four clash proved to be enough to progress.
It could be a famous campaign for Real Betis, as they are also in a battle for a top-four spot in La Liga, currently sitting fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Sevilla, with the club aiming to secure a top-four spot in the top flight for the first time since 2005.
Meanwhile, Valencia enter the clash off the back of successive La Liga defeats to Osasuna and Villarreal, which has seen them slip into 10th position in La Liga standings.
Los Che have defeated Utrillas, Arenteiro, FC Cartagena, Atletico Baleares, Cadiz and Athletic Bilbao to progress to the final, and they will hope that their greater experience in terms of reaching the latter stages of the competition will stand them a good chance against Real Betis this weekend.
Jose Bordalas’ side are well-placed to improve on last season’s disappointing 13th-place finish in La Liga, and a top-half position with a Copa del Rey success would have to go down as a successful campaign.
Real Betis vs Valencia head to head
The two sides have previously met on 51 occasions across all competitions, where Valencia have claimed 27 victories while Betis have won 13, and they have drawn in 11. Betis have scored 55 goals and conceded 83. In their last five meetings, Betis have won three, Valencia one with one draw.
Real Betis 2-1 Valencia 23/11/19
Valencia 2-1 Real Betis 29/02/20
Valencia 0-2 Real Betis 03/10/20
Real Betis 2-2 Valencia 18/04/21
Real Betis 4-1 Valencia 27/10/21
Real Betis latest home form
Real Betis have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having lost three of their five most recent matches. In their last home game, they were defeated 1-0 by Elche in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded seven.
Real Betis 1-3 Atletico Madrid 06/03/22
Real Betis 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt 09/03/22
Real Betis 1-0 Athletic Bilbao 13/03/22
Real Betis 4-1 Osasuna 03/04/22
Real Betis 0-1 Elche 19/04/22
Real Betis latest away form
Betis have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. Their last away defeat came on February 27 when they lost 2-1 to Sevilla. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded four.
Sevilla 2-1 Real Betis 27/02/22
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Real Betis 17/03/22
Celta Vigo 0-0 Real Betis 20/03/22
Cadiz 1-2 Real Betis 09/04/22
Real Sociedad 0-0 Real Betis 15/04/22
Valencia latest home form
Valencia lost their last home game 2-1 to Osasuna in the league. However, they have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their three matches prior to that defeat. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded seven.
Valencia 1-4 Barcelona 20/02/22
Valencia 1-0 Athletic Bilbao 02/03/22
Valencia 3-1 Granada 05/03/22
Valencia 0-0 Cadiz 03/04/22
Valencia 1-2 Osasuna 16/04/22
Valencia latest away form
Valencia lost their last away game 2-0 to Villarreal in the league. However, they have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their four matches prior to that defeat. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded three.
Mallorca 0-1 Valencia 26/02/22
Getafe 0-0 Valencia 12/03/22
Elche 0-1 Valencia 19/03/22
Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Valencia 11/04/22
Villarreal 2-0 Valencia 19/04/22
Real Betis news
Real Betis will be missing the services of Martin Montoya and Victor Camarasa through injury, while Paul Akouokou will be missing following his red card against Elche.
Pellegrini will make changes, with William Carvalho, Hector Bellerin, Borja Iglesias, Guido Rodriguez and Alex Moreno all in line to return to the side.
Valencia news
Bryan Gil, Jose Gaya, Hugo Guillamon, Ilaix Moriba and Mouctar Diakhaby are all expected to come back into the side, while their is likely to be a switch to a back four.
Gabriel Paulista and Toni Lato will face late fitness tests, but Goncalo Guedes should be available following a knock.
Prediction and Odds
Both Real Betis and Valencia will be feeling confident ahead of this clash, and we expect the contest to be a closely-fought one, with either side capable of winning.
While the hosts are more likely to win the game, their is a posibilty of seeing extra-time and potentially the penalties.
Odds: 1 2.15 X 2.05 2 2.26
Probable outcomes
Real Betis 1-0 Valencia
Real Betis 2-1 Valencia
Real Betis 0-0 Valencia
Real Betis 1-1 Valencia
Real Betis 1-2 Valencia
