Spanish Cup Final Betting Preview (Wednesday 12th April)

April 11, 2006

Football fans are spoilt for choice on Wednesday evening with either a Premiership game from Fratton Park, an FA Cup replay, and the Spanish Cup final involving Real Zaragoza and Espanyol. For those unable to decide what game to concentrate on, the Spanish match does at least start at 8.30pm so there is an extra half and hour to make a final decision.

 

Zaragoza, who beat RC Celta de Vigo 3-1 in 2001 and overcame Real Madrid CF 3-2 in extra time in 2004, can take their haul to seven in total with victory at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday against Espanyol.

 

Zaragoza earned their tag as favourites with some sparkling, goal-filled displays earlier in the competition. They knocked out La Liga leaders Barcelona in the quarterfinals, scoring three times in five minutes in a 4-2 first leg victory, before winning 5-4 on aggregate. Next they thumped Real Madrid 6-1 in the first leg of the semis and hung on in the Bernabeu to clinch a dramatic 6-5 aggregate win overall.

 

Zaragoza's form has dipped since reaching the final, however, and they have slipped to 11th in league With six games to go in the league, their best chance of a return to Europe rests in winning on Wednesday to claim a place in next season's UEFA Cup competition. For Espanyol the story this season hasn't been quite so good. Their previous game was a 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Madrid which left them two points above the relegation zone in 15th place.

 

The clubs have met only once this season so far in the league - a 2-2 draw. The second league meeting is scheduled for the end of this month.

 

Looking at the match odds, Paddy Power do look to have been a touch generous in quoting 7/5 on Zaragoza. Despite their patchy league form of late, the Cup has brought the best out of Zaragoza and having despatched of both La Liga giants, it would be an awful waste not to come away with the cup.

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