Albacete
- Albacete Balompie’s form has been inconsistent of late, but their cup run has been a highlight for the club despite their poor league position.
- They were on the wrong end of a 1-3 scoreline against Leganes last weekend but prior to that they had drawn 1-1 with Granada and come from behind to beat Celta Vigo via a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw in their last cup tie.
- Albacete will set up a tight, pragmatic formation with three centre-backs and two wing-backs that work in conjunction with each other to provide width.
- They are a risk-averse side that look to get men behind the ball quickly and transition in a flash.
Real Madrid
- Real Madrid are 2nd in LaLiga with 45 points after 19 matches, four points off leaders Barcelona.
- Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid are in excellent form, trouncing Real Betis 5-1 in LaLiga last weekend, just days after beating city rivals Atlético in the Supercopa.
- Alonso is likely to rotate his squad with the Supercopa and LaLiga taking priority, but they have more than enough depth to win this tie regardless of who he puts out.
Key Players
- Their key attacking players this season have been Agustín Medina Delgado and Antonio Puertas, each tallying 5 - 6 goals, but their main playmaker is the ever-present Jon Morcillo on the flanks.
- Their attacking flair was on display in the 3-2 defeat to Man City but the main man remains Kylian Mbappé.
- The French forward has already scored double figures in the league and has a high Champions League tally, but his fitness will be a key storyline to watch out for in this tie.
- Jude Bellingham is the driving force of this Madrid side, both in terms of creating chances, pressing and transition play.
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Notable names:
- Agustín Medina Delgado
- Antonio Puertas
- Jon Morcillo
- Kylian Mbappé
- Jude Bellingham
Betting Insights
- Real Madrid are 1.26 for this game which is obviously short, but the correct score markets are better priced.
- This is a huge occasion for Albacete at Carlos Belmonte and with the home crowd in full voice, they could keep things competitive for at least the first hour.
Prediction
A 2-0 or 3-1 away win is the way to go and with a porous Albacete backline and Mbappé to watch out for, over 2.5 goals at 1.38 has a good chance of landing.
