Real Betis have a golden opportunity to end their 2018-19 La Liga season on a high, with a Copa del Rey semi final win against Valencia.
Quique Setien’s side had looked like an outside bet to qualify for the Champions League via fourth place in La Liga at the end of 2019, however their form has slipped and Getafe Sevilla and Alaves have move ahead.
They may still qualify for the Europa League, for the second successive season, but they do also have a realistic chance of silverware for the first time in over a decade.
The Andalusian side are under additional pressure to get past Marcelino’s Valencia in the last four, with the end of season final being held at their home ground – the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
They will face a heavyweight clash with either Real Madrid or Barcelona should they make it to their first final since 2005 – where they beat Osasuna in extra time.
Away goals edged them through the round of last 16 and the quarter finals, against Real Sociedad and Espanyol respectively, and they will need to rely on away goals again on Thursday night, after letting a two goal lead slip in the first leg, at the start of the month.
Scoring goals is not an issue for Setien’s side in the Copa this season, with 13 goals scored in their eight Copa games in 2018-19.
Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is the man in form at the moment, with three goals in his last four appearances – with Betis already in negotiations to make his loan move from Paris Saint Germain a permanent one.
With Antonio Sarabia departing on loan to Serie A side Genoa in January, Seiten’s options in attack are limited, with a greater spread of goals the reason for their high scoring form.
Injuries have disrupted Sergio Leon’s season, with just three goals in 2018-19, however all of them have come in the Copa del Rey.
Loren Moron is the closest that Betis have to an striker in form, with three goals in, but his overall return of six all season is a concern.
Defensively there are also issues, with just one clean sheet in their last 13 games in all competitions, ass Setien has struggled to find a consistent central defensive partner for former Barcelona man Marc Bartra – with Antonio Barragan and Sidnei both featuring regularly.
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