In the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, supporters can look forward to an intense Basque derby. Deportivo Alavés go into the match highly motivated after having already eliminated Sevilla (1:0) and Rayo Vallecano (2:0) from the competition. However, Real Sociedad de Fútbol lie ahead, and they have not lost in any competition since mid-December.
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés are in excellent form. In recent league rounds, the side have defeated Real Betis Balompié (2:1) and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (2:1 away). In the Copa del Rey, they have also shown character and tactical maturity, beating four opponents by a combined score of 13:0. They are particularly strong at home, where they have lost only three of their 13 matches this season, and over that run only once has a match produced more than 3.5 goals.
Real Sociedad de Fútbol
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, by contrast, are focusing on LaLiga, where they are gradually gaining momentum and playing with increasing confidence. In the Copa del Rey, the visitors have recently defeated Eldense (1:2) and Osasuna (2:2, progressing on penalties), but away from home they occasionally lose not only to the big clubs but also to outsiders such as Real Oviedo. The squad have the stronger roster, but in cup ties they tend to play cautiously.
Deportivo Alavés vs Real Sociedad de Fútbol Prediction
The head-to-head record favours Deportivo Alavés: in December they won 1:0 at home, and last season both meetings between the sides ended in victories for the team (1:0 and 2:1). We expect a tense match with few goals, and the hosts should avoid defeat.
