Preview: Real Betis vs. Rayo Vallecano - prediction, team news, lineups

Real Betis will play host to Rayo Vallecano on Thursday in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie.

The hosts come into the game with a slender 2-1 lead to defend after an away victory in Madrid in early February.

Match preview

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After progressing past CFI Alicante, Talavera and Real Valladolid in the early rounds of this season's Copa del Rey, Real Betis' first major challenge came in the form of a round-of-16 tie with Sevilla, and they progressed with a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales, before thrashing Real Sociedad 4-0 in the quarter-finals.

In that game, Juanmi hit a brace alongside goals from Willian Jose and Aitor Ruibal, setting them up for a semi-final tie with Rayo Vallecano, and Los Alviverdes have given themselves an advantage with a 2-1 away win thanks to Borja Iglesias's equaliser and William Carvalho's 68th-minute goal.

They come into the second leg looking to add to an already strong season, having recently booked their place in the Europa League round of 16 with a 3-2 aggregate win over Zenit St Petersburg.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have also enjoyed a stellar La Liga campaign thus far, currently sitting third with 46 points from their 26 games, although they do head into Thursday's game on the back of a 2-1 defeat to rivals Sevilla at the weekend.

Los Alviverdes will now look to bounce back from that disappointment and ensure they come out of the two-legged tie victorious.

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On the contrary, Rayo Vallecano will arrive in Sevilla looking to overturn a deficit against the odds and book a place in this season's Copa del Rey final.

In what was a positive first half to the season all round, with Andoni Iraola's side placing in the top six of the La Liga table for early stretches, they quickly advanced through rounds of the domestic cup competition, defeating second-tier duo Mirandes and Girona 1-0 and 2-1 respectively after ties with relative minnows.

Los Franjirrojos then met fellow La Liga outfit Mallorca in the quarter-final, and they advanced with a 1-0 victory thanks to Oscar Trejo's goal, before Alvaro Garcia gave them the advantage in the first leg of the semi-final tie.

Having eventually fallen behind in that game, Iraola's side have now lost their last five games in all competitions, and they will be desperate to correct their form at a crucial time to reach the Copa del Rey final.

Team News

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Real Betis will remain without defenders Martin Montoya and Juan Miranda, as the duo are still confined to the treatment room, while midfielder Victor Camarasa is also ruled out.

However, attacker Juanmi will return to contention after he was suspended for the recent league meeting with Sevilla.

His return will give Pellegrini plenty of decisions to make, with the likes of Borja Iglesias, Nabil Fekir, Sergio Canales and Cristian Tello also vying for starts in the front line.

William Carvalho and Guido Rodriguez should again operate at the base of midfield, protecting Los Alviverdes' back four.

Oscar Valentin will miss out for Rayo Vallecano after coming off injured last time out, with the midfielder joining Martin Merquelanz on the sidelines.

Having not found the net since last November after an impressive start to life in Madrid, veteran forward Radamel Falcao has been reduced to substitute appearances recently, with Sergi Guardiola preferred in attack.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Sabaly, Bartra, Ruiz, Moreno; Rodriguez, Carvalho; Canales, Fekir, Juanmi; Iglesias

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Zidane; Balliu, Suarez, Catena, F Garcia; Ciss, Comesana; Bebe, Trejo, A Garcia; Guardiola

We say: Real Betis 2-1 Rayo Vallecano (Real Betis win 4-2 on aggregate)

The visitors will certainly come out and attack, given they need to overturn a deficit, but that could leave them open at the back, and we expect Pellegrini's men to punish them.

Rayo Vallecano have suffered from a major dip in form, and we do not see them handing Los Verdiblancos a defeat on their travels, given the hosts already have a lead to defend.

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