With the Spanish Cup hotly contested heading into the fourth round, Basque powerhouse Bilbao welcomed the challenge of capital city giants Sporting Madrid. The two teams faced off for the first time in the competition. After a thrilling match, Bilbao won 12-10 on penalties, winning 1-0 against their rivals. Bilbao showed a steady attack in this match, ensuring that the victory was a foregone conclusion. On the other hand, Sporting Madrid, faced with the pressure of playing on three fronts, the players are physically and mentally exhausted, and it is not easy to turn the situation around. Looking back at the last five meetings between the two sides, the total number of goals scored has not exceeded 2 goals, so it is advisable to bet on a median of 2.5 goals for this match. (Friday 4.30am kick-off)
Bilbao's success in reaching the quarterfinals of the Spanish Cup is due to their rock-solid defense. They have not conceded a single goal in four of their last five matches in the Spanish Cup, and they even played against a strong team like Barcelona in the knockout rounds, so their strength is evident. The Basque team's excellent performance at home is also a major advantage, as they are undefeated in their last 14 matches, including a 2-0 win over Sporting Madrid in the league. Therefore, in this round of matches, Bilbao just need to hold on to their position, and I believe that they can once again realize the "zero-seal" opponent.
However, Sporting Madrid have been in a slump lately, winning only one of their past six matches, and even failing to win against relegated team Emilia in the league, which is disappointing. As a matter of fact, Madrid will realize that the squad is not complete, and facing the pressure of playing three fronts, namely La Liga, UEFA Europa League and Spanish Cup, it will undoubtedly add to the woes of the team, with one loss. In addition, the injury of the team's scorer Kei Sharvin has weakened their scoring ability in today's match. The Mariners have failed to score in their last two matches against Bilbao, and will face an unfavorable situation in the opening match of this year's tournament.
