How Valencia’s clinical performance checkmated Betis in the Copa del Rey

After a thriller of a first-leg semi-final between Real Betis and Valencia in the Copa del Rey, all eyes were on the second leg to decide who would face Barcelona in the final in May. Betis had everything to fight for, with the final being played at their home stadium, the Benito Villamarín. Valencia, who hosted Betis, have not lost a game at home since the start of the 2019. With only a goal to separate the two at the final whistle, our tactical analysis closely examines this fixture and seeks to accurately interpret the statistics.

Lineups

Kévin Gameiro turned the previous leg around for Valencia, coming off the bench and equalising against Betis. Hence, Marcelino chose him to start in this leg alongside Rodrigo Moreno as the front two of a 4-4-2. He also picked Portuguese international Gonçalo Guedes ahead of Denis Cheryshev at left midfield. At the back, Facundo Roncaglia filled in alongside Gabriel Paulista with Ezequiel Garay out with a muscle injury.

Quique Setien was relieved to have Marc Batra back fit to marshal the heart of his back three. Leaving Jesé as the only true forward, Betis boasted their regular central midfield quartet. Andres Guardado and William Carvalho played the double pivot in front of the defence. Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Canales led the attacking midfield. The shape was not a true 3-1-4-2 but varied during the game. Betis would sometimes look like a 3-4-2-1 or a 3-4-3 looking to open up the spaces in a rigid Valencia formation.

Statistics dont reveal the whole picture

This fixture cannot be judged purely on statistical figures and needs to be examined more closely. In order to interpret the stats accurately, we have to understand both Setien’s and Marcelino’s strategy. Betis played their regular possession game averaging around 70% with short passes in build-up. However, Valencia created more chances from their limited opportunities.