Real Betis will travel to the Estadio Francisco de la Hera for Thursday's Copa del Rey clash with sixth-tier Gevora.
Los Verdiblancos will hope the first-round tie is the start of a memorable cup journey as they bid to win the competition for the fourth time in their history.
Match preview
Gevora are competing in the Copa del Rey are securing their spot via their second-place finish in Group Two of the Primera Extremena last season.
The sixth-tier outfit were forced to come through a nervy preliminary round tie against Sotavento Beaches earlier this month.
Gevora were shown three cards in the contest - two to players on the pitch and one to the substitute goalkeeper - as they played out a 1-1 draw before they kept their composure to win 4-2 in the subsequent penalty shootout.
Away from their cup exploits, Gevora have made an impressive start to their league campaign, collecting 13 points from six matches to move to the top of the table.
Impressively, they have avoided defeat in each of their last six matches in all competitions, ensuring they will carry some confidence into Thursday's fixture as they dream of pulling off an almighty upset.
Meanwhile, Betis will hope this is the first match of a memorable cup run as they look to replicate their success from 2021-22 when they beat Valencia on penalties to win the Copa del Rey for the third time in their history.
Los Verdiblancos will carry momentum into the first-round clash after putting together a three-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
After recording a narrow away win over Osasuna, Betis had to settle for a point in their recent Conference League clash with Copenhagen, before they returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory in Sunday's home game against Atletico Madrid.
Jose Maria Gimenez's early own goal proved enough to clinch Betis all three points, leaving them in sixth position< and just two points adrift of fourth-placed Atleti.
Los Verdiblancos will now head on their travels, and while they have won just one of their last six home matches, they are supremely confident of sealing their place in the second round.
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
Gevora are set to be without Momi, Adri Gonzalez and Cristoffer Fernandez after the trio were all sent off in the preliminary round tie against Playas de Sotavento.
Fran Fernandez is expected to start between the posts, and he could be shielded by a back four of Ismael Perera, Adolfo Rosado, Samuel Lopez and Jorge Rodriguez.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Adrian Maya is likely to be given the responsibility of leading the line against Betis.
As for Manuel Pellegrini's side, they are still without the services of William Carvalho, Giovanni Lo Celso and Isco.
Hector Bellerin and Marc Roca are both doubts and will have to be assessed ahead of Thursday's Copa del Rey fixture.
Pellegrini is likely to rotate his side which could result in starting places being handed to the likes of Adrian, Nobel Mendy, Juanmi and Assane Diao.
Gevora possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; I. Perera, Rosado, Lopez, Rodriguez; Alvarez, A. Perera; Lozano, Valenzuela, Nene; Maya
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Adrian; Sabaly, Llorente, Mendy, Rodriguez; Diao, Altimira, Flores, Juanmi; Bakambu, Losada
We say: Gevora 0-5 Real Betis
While Pellegrini is expected to make wholesale changes, Betis will still field a side stacked with considerable quality, who show have far too much firepower for their sixth-tier opponents, which is why we believe the visitors will cruise to comfortable victory.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
