Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid Prediction: Card for Cardoso on return

The fourth and final Copa del Rey quarter-final of the week takes place at the Estadio de La Cartuja on Thursday (20:00 GMT), with Real Betis and Atletico Madrid facing off for a spot in the final four.

Below are my Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Sofyan Amrabat, Isco (both ankle), Junior Firpo (thigh), Cucho Hernandez (hamstring), Giovani Lo Celso and Hector Bellerin (both muscle) all look likely to miss out for Manuel Pellegrini's Real Betis due to injury.

Football Odds

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, meanwhile, must make do without Alexander Sorloth (head), Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo Riquelme (both muscle), but Antoine Griezmann has returned to training following a three-game absence with a thigh problem.

Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid Odds

Underdogs Real Betis are 23/10 to triumph in regulation time on Thursday, implying a 30.3% probability of success, while Atletico Madrid are 11/10, or a 47.6% chance, to claim a second victory of the season at La Cartuja, with the draw, which would send the tie to extra time, offered at 5/2.

Betfred's Price Boosts for this game include Antony To Score 2+ Goals at 20/1 (was 16/1).

Player to Receive a Card - Johnny Cardoso (ATM) @ 9/2

Atletico midfielder Johnny Cardoso joined Simeone's side last summer from Betis, for whom he was booked five times in 2024/25.

The 24-year-old has made just eight La Liga appearances (seven starts) for Atletico this season, yet he's received three yellow cards and is averaging 1.9 fouls per 90.

He was also booked in Atletico's last cup game, a 1-0 victory over Alaves on January 18.

Today's Football Fixtures

On Thursday, the USA international is likely to be in close contact with Nelson Deossa, who is averaging three fouls won per 90 in La Liga and 4.2 per 90 in the Europa League. The Colombian has also been fouled 13 times across just three Copa del Rey appearances.

There's also Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli, who is averaging 3.1 and 1.9 fouls won per 90 in La Liga and the Europa League, respectively, to consider. Ezzalzouli attracted two yellow-card challenges against Valencia last Sunday, from right-sided centre-back Eray Comert and central midfielder Pepelu.

Both Deossa and Ezzalzouli could pose problems on Thursday for Cardoso, who may be forced to employ the dark arts to stop them.

Match Result - Real Betis @ 23/10

Atletico won 2-0 at Betis in La Liga earlier in the season, but they've not been in good form since the turn of the year, winning just three of their eight games (D3, L2), and one of those victories was a 1-0 success at second-division side Deportivo La Coruna in the previous round of the Copa del Rey on January 13.

Los Colchoneros have failed to win either of their last two matches, suffering a shock 2-1 home defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Uefa Champions League on January 28 before being held to a goalless draw at Levante in La Liga three days later.

Simeone's side have only won one of their last four away games, drawing the other three, and they've already suffered five defeats on their travels this term.

Betis, meanwhile, have recovered from back-to-back away defeats at PAOK (2-0) and Deportivo Alaves (2-1) to beat Feyenoord (2-1) and Valencia (2-1) on home soil, where they have won all five games since going down 5-2 to FC Barcelona on December 6.

Atleti have looked vulnerable in recent weeks, and so I think the game is there to be won for Betis. At 23/10, it's worth siding with the hosts, in my opinion.