I know we're not supposed to get too excited by the cup, but this still feels like a massive game. With Sevilla or Real Zaragoza (who drew 0-0 up north last night) waiting in the semis, this is easily the most daunting obstacle left between Betis and their first final for eight years.
But "daunting" certainly is the word. Atlético have been clearly Spain's second-best team this season and in any normal year would be challenging for the league title. They've won ten out of ten in the league at home - goals for: 30; goals against 6 - and can call upon the services of arguably the world's leading No. 9, the awesome Colombian Radmael Falcao.
To go up against them, and try, most importantly, to get an away goal, Pepe Mel is likely to compromise a little on his usual total squad rotation. The Betis back five will probably comprise mostly those that played against Las Palmas last week - Casto, Ángel, Paulao, Perquis, Nacho - but from there forward we can expect a more or less full-strength Betis line-up: Rubén Pérez, Cañas or Nono, Joel Campbell, Beñat, Rubén Castro, Jorge Molina. As we've seen time and time again this season, that front six should be good for a chance or two on the break; but tonight the big question is whether the defence can hold Falcao, Diego Costa, Adrián & Co at bay. No-one else seems to have been able to.
The league meeting of the two teams finished 2-4 at the Villamarín, but that's slightly misleading as Betis were definitely prejudiced by poor refereeing. We know that Betis are a match for any side in the country on their night - let's just hope that means tonight.
i suffer from blind faith, so i'm going for a 2 - 1 away win!!! musho betis
Posted by: ahsan | Thursday, 17 January 2013 at 05:31 PM
Well, Ahsan, my tactic of expecting the worst seemed to work wonders on Sunday, so I'm going for a 2-1 HOME win. But Musho Betis indeed.
Posted by: Adam | Thursday, 17 January 2013 at 07:42 PM