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Both teams in poor form
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La Real recently won at Mallorca in the league
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Hosts can win a tight encounter in San Sebastian
Real Sociedad v Mallorca
Tuesday 27 February, 20:30
A swing and a miss in Italy last night, as Roma's 3-2 win over Torino took us well over the 3.5 goals line. We'll head to the Basque country now, because Real Sociedad are up against Mallorca in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
The goals have dried up somewhat for La Real, and the first leg of this tie ended 0-0. Remarkably, the San Sebastian side have scored just three goals in their last seven competitive games. At the weekend, they lost 3-1 at home to Villarreal, and to rub salt into the wounds, former La Real striker Alexander Sorloth found the net.
Imanol Alguacil's side did however win 2-1 at Mallorca in the league recently, and although they have gone six home games without a win, I still believe they can rise to the occasion in front of a packed crowd at the Reale Arena. They have former Mallorca winger Take Kubo, who is capable of breaking open a tight game, while midfield dynamo Mikel Merino has found the net in his last two matches and hit the crossbar in the Champions League defeat at PSG.
Mallorca are also on a poor run, with one win from their last six competitive matches. Javier Aguirre's side are just six points above the dropzone in La Liga, and their only Copa del Rey win against top-level opposition this term was against a Girona side distracted by the title race.
It's difficult to be too confident about a Real Sociedad side is such disappointing form, but they have already won this tournament under Imanol Alguacil, and they are better than Mallorca man for man. I'll back Real Sociedad to win, Under 3.5 Goals and Over 6.5 Corners on the Sportsbook's Bet Builder at 2.26/5.