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Four eliminations for the Andalusian team

Barça has only won 2 of the 9 Copa del Rey in which it has faced Betis

Published:15/01/2025 - 12:41h

Updated:22/01/2025 - 18:50h

The team led by Hansi Flick will face the green and white team on Wednesday for the tenth time in the history of the competition

Calendar of FC Barcelona

The Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys will host FC Barcelona and Real Betis on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. for the Copa del Rey round of 16 match. It will be the tenth time they have faced each other, and the second time in this round, in the history of the competition. Although, historically, the Catalan team is a stronger club, the history is divided. The Seville team has knocked the Blaugranas out of the competition 4 times, compared to the 5 times that the opposite happened.

The reality is that, for Barça, meeting the southern team in the Copa del Rey is something similar to crossing paths with a black cat. They have done so on nine occasions and have only managed to emerge victorious on five occasions. The green-and-white club eliminated the blue-and-red team in the 1932/1933, 1933/1934, 1984/1985 and 1993/1994 editions. On the other hand, the opposite occurred in the 1926/1927, 1929/1930, 1958/1959, 1996/1997 and 2010/2011 seasons.

Likewise, if the ties against Betis have always been tight, winning the tournament after facing the team that resides in Heliopolis has also happened on few occasions. In fact, it has only happened twice. The first of them was in the middle of the last century, in the 58/59 season, under the command of Helenio Herrera. The Catalan club beat the Andalusians in the quarter-finals (4-9), Real Madrid in the semi-final (7-3) and Granada in the final (4-1).

The second time occurred in the 1996/1997 season, with Bobby Robson on the bench and Mourinho as translator. The clash between the protagonists took place directly in the final of the tournament, held at the Santiago Bernabéu. Alfonso put the Betis ahead in the 11th minute and Figo tied the match in the 45th. The final moments were frenetic, as George put Betis ahead again in the 82nd minute and, at the last minute, Pizzi sent the match to extra time. There, in the 115th minute, Figo gave FC Barcelona the victory.

Thus, this tie will be the tenth in which both teams face each other in the Copa del Rey, the second in this century. Real Betis have the chance to equal the historic record, while the Catalans will look to take more distance. With the last duel between the two in La Liga as a precedent, it will surely be a match full of emotions.