Basque Derby Decides Spot in Semi-Finals
The Basque Derby will take place at Mendizorroza, with a spot in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey on the line. Alavés faces Real Sociedad in a highly anticipated match scheduled for Wednesday. Both teams come into the fixture with different trajectories in the tournament.
Match Background
Alavés arrives after impressive performances, eliminating Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano. The team also holds a recent league draw against Athletic Club, finishing 1-1. They aspire to recreate the excitement from nine years ago when they reached their only Copa del Rey final after beating Celta in the semi-finals.
On the other hand, Real Sociedad is aiming for its third consecutive semi-final appearance. Previous matches against Mallorca and Real Madrid have positioned them within striking distance of another title run.
Current Form and Key Players
Under the guidance of coach Eduardo Coudet, Alavés shows strength in defense, backed by goalkeeper Raúl Fernández, who has yet to concede a goal in the tournament. Key defenders include Nahuel Tenaglia and Facundo Garcés, who recently returned from suspension.
Potential lineups for the match include:
- Alavés: Raúl; Tenaglia, Garcés, Pacheco, Otto; Blanco, Ibáñez, Ángel or Calebe, Rebbach; Guridi and Lucas Boyé.
- Real Sociedad: Remiro; Aramburu, Caleta-Car, Jon Martín, Sergio Gómez; Gorrotxategi, Soler, Brais, Marín; Guedes and Oyarzabal.
Match Details
Referee Alejandro Quintero from the Andalusian Committee will officiate the match. It is set to kick off at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT) at the Mendizorroza Stadium.
Injury Updates and Team News
Alavés will miss Carlos Protesoni, while they regain Denis Suárez. Coach Coudet could start Ángel Pérez on the right wing, complemented by Antonio Blanco, Pablo Ibáñez, and Abde Rebbach in midfield. Lucas Boyé and Jon Guridi are expected to lead the attack.
Real Sociedad arrives full of confidence, having maintained an unbeaten streak across eight matches. The team recently edged past Osasuna in a penalty shootout to progress in the Copa del Rey. However, they will be without Marrero, Kubo, Barrenetxea, and Zakharyan due to injuries. Wesley and Yangel Herrera are available for selection, enhancing their squad depth.
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo may implement a tactical shift, possibly deploying four midfielders to compensate for the injuries. Fans eagerly await the strategy that could influence a critical knock-out game.
This fixture promises to be a crucial encounter, shaping the path for one of these Basque teams towards the semi-finals in pursuit of the prestigious Copa del Rey title.
