Real Madrid vs Osasuna prediction: SPAIN: Copa del Rey betting tips on match 2023-05-05 20:00.
The 2022/23 Copa del Rey (CDR) final pits 19-time winners Real Madrid against Osasuna, 120 years after Real took their place in the first ever final. The Madrid giants will hope that the result isnât repeated as in 1903 they lost 3-2 to Athletic Bilbao, but it would be another 102 years before Osasuna made their only CDR final appearance, losing 2-1 after extra-time to Real Betis in 2005.
After Los Blancos beat Osasuna 2-0 in league action back in February, manager Carlo Ancelotti joked to his opposite number Jagoba Arrasate that they would meet again in May and despite losing the first leg of their semi-final to Barcelona, those words rang true. The Madrid boss would have liked a better lead-up to this showdown as theyâve lost two of their last three fixtures (W1), although he has managed to keep some key players fresh for this assault.
While Madrid battled through the CDR rounds with three of their four victories either by a single goal or after extra-time, it also hasnât been plain sailing for Osasuna, as each of their previous four ties went to extra-time including beating Athletic 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final! With the odds firmly stacked against them to become the first new winners since Mallorca in 2002/03, their build-up has been poor given theyâve lost their last two league games âto nilâ.
Theyâll hope the big occasion can inspire them to make history, as Osasuna havenât beaten Real since January 2011 (D5, L13) and never in the CDR (L4). However, back in the 1980s, H2Hs were less one-sided, which is perhaps one of the reasons Osasuna launched a new shirt for the final displaying colours more in keeping with those they wore back then as they seek to claim any advantage possible!
Players to watch: One of those rested in midweek, Karim Benzema scored the opener in a CDR H2H back in January 2014 during Ancelottiâs first spell in charge, and with four goals in this seasonâs competition, heâs just one behind the leader, Osasunaâs Kike GarcĂa. He might fancy his chances against a Real Madrid defence thatâs conceded eight times in three games, with his last three CDR goals arriving before the 35th minute.
Hot streak: None of the last seven CDR finals witnessed scoring between the 75th minute and the end of the second half.