The Copa del Rey Round Of 16 match between Albacete Balompié and Real Madrid will take place 14 january at Carlos Belmonte stadium. Albacete Balompié vs Real Madrid: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, under Alberto González, progressed through three rounds in the current edition of the competition, thrashing San Fernando (3:0), defeating Leganés (2:1) and in the previous round overcoming Celta (2:2, extra time 0:0, on penalties 3:0). Note that the home side has scored in four consecutive Copa del Rey matches; however the home side managed to keep a clean sheet in only one of their last five matches in this competition. The club cannot boast significant achievements in the national cup: it last reached the round of 16 in the 2011/12 season.
- Albacete Balompié did not concede more than one goal in 10 of their last 12 matches in the Copa del Rey.
- At home in this competition the club has not lost in 12 of their previous 14 matches (in normal time 9 wins and 3 draws).
- Both teams scored in 6 of the last 8 home matches for the home side in the Copa del Rey.
Potential Albacete Balompié Lineup (4-4-2)*
Diego Mariño – Fran Gámez, Carlos Neva, Jesús Vallejo, Jonathan Gómez – Riky Rodríguez, Alejandro Meléndez, José Carlos Lazo, Víctor Valverde – Agus Medina, Jefte Betancor.
Midfielder Antonio Puertas, forward Iñigo Marín and defender Jon García are injured.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid started the current edition of the national cup in the previous round, in which they narrowly beat Talavera (3:2). Last season the team reached the final but could not win their 21st Copa del Rey title, losing to Barcelona. At the same time, in normal time the side did not lose in 10 of their last 11 matches in this competition (7 wins, 3 draws). It should be added that the visiting team for a club of this level concedes relatively often in the Copa del Rey: in 8 of their last 10 matches. Note that the team has progressed beyond the round of 16 for five consecutive seasons.
By mutual consent the contract with head coach Xabi Alonso was terminated. Alvaro Arbeloa was appointed as the new coach.
- At least 4 goals were scored in normal time in 8 of the last 9 matches for the visiting team in the Copa del Rey.
- In 7 of the last 8 away matches in the national cup the visiting team scored at least twice.
- Away in this competition Real Madrid won in normal time in 8 of their last 9 matches (1 draw).
Potential Real Madrid Lineup (4-3-3)*
Thibaut Courtois – Raul Asensio, Federico Valverde, Deen Heysen, Alvaro Carreras – Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham – Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo Garcia.
Midfielder Brahim Diaz is with the national team. Defenders Ferland Mendy, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eder Militao will miss the match due to injury.
Albacete Balompié vs Real Madrid: Match Prediction
In the previous round Albacete Balompié managed to defeat a La Liga side, but the hosts are unlikely to repeat that achievement in the round of 16. Real Madrid, one of European football's giants, comes to Albacete Balompié, and they are not in the best spirits after the Supercopa de España defeat. Even a probable squad rotation should not prevent the visitors from progressing, given the considerable class gap between the sides. Moreover, in the national cup the visiting team have shown excellent results, winning in normal time in 8 of their last 9 away matches (1 draw). In addition, over this period the visiting team scored at least three goals in six games.
Albacete Balompié in Segunda is fighting to avoid relegation, sitting just one point above the drop zone. One of the club's main problems is a weak defence: by goals conceded the hosts are among the three worst. Even in the Copa del Rey, where the team mainly faces lower-division opponents, things are not much better. Therefore it is rare for the home side to progress far in this tournament, and it will be very difficult to offer serious resistance to one of the most decorated clubs in Copa del Rey history.
Prediction: Real Madrid to Win and Over 2.5 goals
* For each team the starting lineup from their previous match is shown.
