The Copa Del Rey Quarter Final round has arrived after an eventful month in Spanish soccer. Real Madrid went home, all non-La Liga sides bar one got knocked out, and more storylines developed before this round. Here’s Hooligan Soccer’s Copa Del Rey Quarter Final preview for the Wednesday and Thursday fixtures, all of which are streaming on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Valencia vs Athletic Club
Valencia will host Athletic Club in the first of three all-La Liga clashes in this round.
The last time these two teams faced each other, Valencia won 2-0 in September. The last time Valencia and Athletic Club faced each other in the Copa Del Rey was in the 2022/23 season, also at Mestalla, also in the quarter final. Athletic Club won 3-1 then.
Valencia and Athletic have faced each 11 times in the Copa Del Rey. They have also met in four Copa Del Rey finals, with both teams winning two each.
Athletic Club have had a rocky road to the quarter final. They only entered in the Round of 32, as did all the teams that played the Supercopa de Espana this season. However, they could not finish off any of their opponents in regular time and had to rely on extra time heroics after the 100th minute to beat Ourense and Cultural Leonesa.
Valencia have taken the longer road, beating Maracena, Cartagena, Sporting Gijon, and then Burgos to reach the quarter final. The matches they played were not very impressive, but they got the job done.
Valencia are 16th in the La Liga table and picking up form despite the 2-1 defeat to Real Betis on the weekend. Athletic Club meanwhile are 11th in La Liga and have won only three of their last 12 games. They were held to a 1-1 draw in the Basque derby on Sunday. Neither team looks impressive. This fixture could go either way. Valencia might just take it based on their recent upturn in form.
Alavés vs Real Sociedad
This all Basque tie sees Real Sociedad travel to nearby Vitoria to take on Aláves.
Real Sociedad and Alavés have met a total of 26 times in history. Real Sociedad edge Alavés with 11 wins to nine. However, they have only met once previously in the Copa Del Rey, where Aláves won 2-1.
Real Sociedad are a side that have completely flipped their season. They were loitering in the bottom half of the table early on, but now sit 8th.
They are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions, including the 1-1 draw against Athletic Club last Sunday. Striker Mikel Oyarzabal (right) leads the team with eight goals.
Alavés are only three points behind Real Sociedad in La Liga in 10th place and have won two games in a row. They have already dispatched La Liga sides Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla FC in the Copa Del Rey, so Real Sociedad should not be taken lightly. However, I expect Real Sociedad to overpower Alavés in this fixture.
Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid
The final fixture in the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final sees Real Betis host Atlético Madrid at the Estadio de La Cartuja.
The final fixture in the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final sees Real Betis host Atlético Madrid at the Estadio de La Cartuja.
Simeone’s Los Colchoneros had great momentum heading into January but are currently stumbling. They lost to Real Madrid in the Supercopa semi final. This was followed by a disappointing loss to Bodø/Glimt on the final Champions League matchday which knocked them out of the Top 8 (and automatic qualification). To make it worse, they drew with Levante this weekend, further loosening their grip on the La Liga chase.
Last season’s semi finalists Atlético Madrid have had a mixed Copa Del Rey campaign, narrowly scraping victories against Atlético Baleares and Deportivo La Coruna. Atleti have not won this tournament since 2013, and coincidentally they faced Betis in the quarter finals that year as well.
Real Betis had a strong end to 2025 but have started the new year poorly. They have managed only three wins and three losses in seven games in 2026. However, they are having an excellent European campaign, having qualified automatically for the next round of the UEFA Europa League.
An important part of Betis’ success has been Antony (right). The ex-Manchester United winger has 9g/7a in all competitions since making his load permanent over the summer.
Betis have also won their last three home games, where this tie will take place. Atleti, however, are undefeated in nine of their last 11 away matches in all competitions.
In historical head to head meetings, Real Betis have beaten Atlético Madrid only three times in 30 matches, with Atlético claiming 21 victories. I believe Atleti should comfortably claim victory and proceed to the next round.
Abhik Deb is an accomplished sports journalist and content creator, renowned for his innovative approach to digital storytelling within the football world. With a Master’s degree in Sports Journalism and Communications from Universidad Europea de Madrid, Abhik brings a sophisticated understanding of both traditional journalistic tenets and contemporary digital media strategies to his work. His professional journey includes a significant tenure as a multimedia journalist at Real Madrid C.F., where his contributions spanned video editing, scriptwriting, and on-camera presenting. Notably, Abhik made history as the first Indian to record a live stand-up from the hallowed Santiago Bernabéu pitch for Real Madrid TV, underscoring his pioneering spirit and influential presence. A specialist in La Liga and Spanish football, Abhik excels at captivating audiences through viral football content and insightful documentary-style videos. His natural ability to blend rigorous journalism with creative digital storytelling is evident in his independent fan channel, ‘LaLigaVic,’ where he cultivates a growing audience through engaging, original coverage of Spanish football culture. Abhik’s proficiency extends to social media strategy and audience engagement, crucial skills in today’s digital landscape. You can explore more of Abhik’s work on Hooligan Soccer and Muckrack. Connect with Abhik on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to follow his continuous dedication to delivering high-quality, authoritative sports content.
