In its sixth year under the guidance of the highly experienced Manuel Pellegrini, the once-modest Betis continues to develop. At the end of last year, the contract with the 72-year-old coach was extended, which confirms a stable and comfortable situation at the club. In the past season Betis raised its professional bar, reaching the Europa Conference League final. With a squad fairly modest by European standards, the Seville-based club has raised its ambitions and now aims for a place in the Champions League in La Liga. Given Villarreal's fourth-place form, Betis has a chance to challenge for that position in La Liga. Atlético Madrid is unlikely to be proud of its current form and the season as a whole. On the one hand, the Mattress Makers are traditionally in third place in La Liga's table, and in the Champions League they earned the right to enter the qualifying round. On the other hand, Diego Simeone's team doesn't even hint at contending for the title, and in the previous edition of the elite European competition they reached the Round of 16 directly by finishing in the top eight in the group stage. Interestingly, among the two opponents in the Seville meeting, the hosts were the last to win the Copa del Rey. That honor was achieved by Pellegrini's side in 2022. Meanwhile, bookmakers have named the guests favorites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 2.13 on their victory. Betis, unlike its opponent, handled its Europa League campaign best. The Seville club finished in the top eight, which in February saved them a lot of time for preparation and for taking part in the two legs of the qualifying round. In the last round of the domestic championship, Betis defeated Valencia, which allowed them to secure fifth place in the standings with distant prospects of reaching the Champions League zone. Overall, there is a positive atmosphere in the home camp, and nothing stands in the way of their best preparation to welcome guests from the capital. Atlético Madrid is not in good form. After the Spanish Super Cup and the previous round of the Copa del Rey, the Mattress Makers have won only two of five matches, in which they faced modest Mallorca and Alavés. During this period, they also drew with Levante away and lost at home to Bodø/Glimt. The hosts are now on par with the capital's team.