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Saturday's Copa del Rey predictions including Barbastro vs. Barcelona

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 January 2025, 06:30
Huesca vs. Betis (Saturday, 2.30pm)

Top-flight outfit Real Betis will travel to Estadio El Alcoraz for Saturday's Copa del Rey clash against second-tier Huesca.

The hosts have avoided defeat in each of their last seven matches, while Betis will carry a six-game unbeaten run into the Round of 32 clash.

We say: Huesca 2-2 Real Betis

Huesca may be the underdogs for the Copa del Rey clash, but we think they have the potential to spring a surprise, especially as they have lost just one of their 10 competitive home games this season.

We think the Segunda Division side could take Betis to extra time, and potentially penalties, with the hosts making full use of home advantage to eliminate their top-tier opponents.

Almeria vs. Sevilla (Saturday, 4.30pm)

Sevilla will be bidding to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey when they head to Segunda Division leaders Almeria on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors are currently 14th in the La Liga table, picking up just 22 points from their opening 18 matches of the campaign, while Almeria are top of the second tier, with La Union bidding to secure an immediate return to the top flight.

We say: Almeria 2-1 Sevilla

Almeria are a strong outfit and will enter this match in excellent form; if the hosts select their best players, then we fancy them to emerge victorious on Saturday afternoon against a Sevilla outfit that are having another difficult campaign.

Barbastro vs. Barcelona (Saturday, 6.00pm)

Barcelona will be bidding to avoid what would be one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Copa del Rey when they take on fourth-tier outfit Barbastro in the last-32 stage of the 2024-25 tournament on Saturday evening.

The Catalan giants are the most successful Copa del Rey side of all time, winning the competition on 31 occasions, while Barbastro will be aiming to secure their spot in the round of 16 for the first time in their history.

We say: Barbastro 0-3 Barcelona

Barcelona will not be at full strength on Saturday, and the Catalan outfit will enter the clash off the back of successive defeats, but we are struggling to see anything other than a comfortable success for the visitors in this Copa del Rey contest.

> Szczesny debut? Araujo to start? How Barcelona could line up vs. Barbastro

> Yamal, Olmo updates: Barcelona injury, suspension news vs. Barbastro

UD Logrones vs. Athletic Bilbao (Saturday, 8.30pm)

Copa del Rey holders Athletic Bilbao will be aiming to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the competition when they take on fourth-tier outfit UD Logrones on Saturday night.

Athletic became 24-time winners of the trophy last season when they beat Mallorca in the final, while Logrones are bidding to secure a spot in the final 16 of this tournament for the first time in their history.

We say: UD Logrones 0-3 Athletic Bilbao

Athletic will not be at full strength for this match, but head coach Valverde will still be able to select a side full of quality, and we are finding it very difficult to imagine anything other than a comfortable victory for the visitors.

Marbella vs. Atletico (Saturday, 8.30pm)

Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it 13 wins in a row in all competitions when they take on third-tier outfit Marbella in the last-32 stage of the Copa del Rey on Saturday night.

Diego Simeone's side recorded a standout 2-1 victory over Barcelona in La Liga before the winter break, while Marbella beat Recreativo Huelva 3-1 in their last fixture in the third tier of Spanish football.

We say: Marbella 0-2 Atletico Madrid

Marbella will have home advantage and certainly have the players to make this a tricky assignment for Atletico, but even with Simeone making a number of changes, it would be a massive shock if the visitors did not comfortably book their spot in the round of 16.

Written by

Oliver Thomas

4 January 2025
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