Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 7/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
On Tuesday evening, Celta Vigo is set to host Real Sociedad at Balaidos for the second time in a matter of days.
Following their loss in the league meeting on Saturday, the hosts will seek revenge as they go head-to-head with the Basque side in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey.
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo find themselves in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey for the first time since the 2016/17 season following a 3-1 victory over Valencia in the previous round. Despite entering the weekend on the back of a four-game unbeaten run across all competitions, their positive momentum was halted by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad.
With the loss, Os Celestes remain in 16th place in La Liga, just two points above the relegation zone. While their primary focus is securing their place in the top flight, Celta also harbors dreams of clinching their first-ever Copa del Rey trophy. They have been runners-up three times so far which represents their best achievement in this competition, most recently in the 2000/01 season when they lost the final to Real Zaragoza.
Before setting their sights on a potential cup triumph, Rafa Benitez’s men must overcome Real Sociedad, a team they have struggled against in recent encounters. They have failed to win any of their last eight meetings against Tuesday’s opponents, managing six draws and two losses. The upcoming match presents a crucial opportunity for Celta to break this winless streak and progress further.
Team News
Celta are without the services of defender Joseph Aidoo and winger Franco Cervi due to injuries. Jonathan Bamba is also unavailable as he is currently representing the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. Although Javier Manquillo has recently joined from Newcastle United on a permanent deal, he will not be available for Tuesday’s cup tie.
In the absence of these players, Anastasios Douvikas is anticipated to play a key role in the forward line. The Greece international has been on impressive form, scoring two goals in each of the club’s last three Copa del Rey matches.
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad are gearing up for another away fixture, marking their fifth consecutive match on the road since the start of 2024, with their last home game being a draw against Alaves at the Reale Arena.
Imanol Alguacil’s team initiated this series of away games with a victory over Malaga in the Copa del Rey and a derby defeat to Athletic Bilbao. In their last-16 tie, they secured a 2-0 win against Osasuna. They maintained their defensive solidity with three clean sheets in their last four competitive matches, including a narrow 1-0 victory over Celta as Brais Mendez scored against his former team, allowing them to finish the weekend in sixth place, six points behind the top four.
The 2019/20 Copa del Rey winners are now eyeing their third consecutive quarter-final appearance, aiming to progress further this time after stumbling at this stage in the last two seasons against Barcelona and Real Betis. Despite their recent struggles in the quarter-finals, Real Sociedad has had success in their recent visits to Balaidos, winning each of their last five competitive away meetings with Celta and keeping clean sheets in three of them.
Team News
Left-back Aihen Munoz is set for an extended period on the sidelines due to an ACL injury sustained in the recent league trip to Balaidos. Munoz is now added to the list of unavailable players, which includes Alvaro Odriozola, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Merquelanz, Ander Barrenetxea, and Carlos Fernandez. Takefusa Kubo and Hamed Traore are also unavailable due to international duty.
In response to these absences, several key players who were on the bench during the weekend, such as Aritz Elustondo, Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino, Arsen Zakharyan, and Mikel Oyarzabal, are expected to make a return to the starting lineup for the crucial quarter-final clash. The challenges in personnel highlight the resilience Real Sociedad will need to display as they strive for success in the Copa del Rey.
Conclusion
Much like the one on Saturday, this encounter is likely to be closely contested, with Sociedad scraping a narrow win to book their place in the semifinals of the Copa.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 7/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
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