Our betting expert expects the home team to get on the scoresheet, but Real Madrid to safely advance into the next round.
Talavera vs Real Madrid Betting Predictions
All odds are courtesy of bet365, correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.
- Over 3.5 goals @ 19/20 with bet365Â
- Both teams to score @ 11/10 with bet365
- Half with most goals - Second half @ 19/20 with bet365
Expect goals in third-round tie
Rotation is to be expected from Real Madrid, particularly in attacking areas where squad depth allows for changes. Gonzalo Garcia, Franco Mastantuono, Endrick, and Brahim Diaz will all be eager to make an impression. Rodrygo also appears set to start, and heâs fresh from a key goal in Vitoria at the weekend.
Those players should all have sufficient quality to trouble third-tier opposition. Talavera de la Reina are in serious danger of relegation, which makes their cup run a surprise. They are ranked 15 places below Real Madridâs B team in Group A of the Primera Federacion.
The hosts have gone nine matches without a clean sheet in all competitions. Itâs therefore hard to see them keeping even a second-string Real Madrid attack quiet for long. Backing over 3.5 goals with an implied probability of 51.3% seems to offer value.
- Talavera de la Reina vs Real Madrid Prediction 1: Over 3.5 goals @ 19/20 with bet365Â
Injury-ravaged Madrid defence to concede
The home side could find the net at least once. Theyâll certainly take encouragement from Real Madridâs significant defensive selection issues.
Alonso had to cope without seven defenders against Alaves at the weekend. Heâll still be without Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy on Wednesday night.
Those issues have contributed to Real Madridâs failure to keep clean sheets in recent weeks. Theyâve shut their opponents out in just one of their last seven matches in all competitions. Los Blancos conceded 11 times in total across those games.
Talavera have shown their best attacking form in the Copa del Rey this term. Theyâve scored six goals across the opening two rounds. Given that, backing both teams to score with an implied probability of 47.6% seems appealing.
- Talavera de la Reina vs Real Madrid Prediction 2: Both teams to score @ 11/10 with bet365
Action-packed second half in store
Copa del Rey ties often see the minnows keep it tight in the first half, only to tire after the break. This match could certainly go that way, with Real Madrid likely to leave plenty of attacking quality on the bench.
Alonso hopes he wonât need to turn to that. However, with his job potentially on the line, the Basque coach won't take any chances. If the visitors are not ahead by the interval, substitutes are likely to be introduced soon after.
Real Madridâs defence has also been more vulnerable in the second half of games this season. 69% of the goals theyâve conceded in La Liga have come after the interval.
Given that, backing the second half to produce the highest number of goals appears to offer value. Thatâs given an implied probability of 51.3%.
- Talavera de la Reina vs Real Madrid Prediction 3: Half with most goals - Second half @ 19/20 with bet365
Our analysis: Form of both teams
- Score prediction - Talavera de la Reina 1-3 Real Madrid
- Goalscorers prediction - Talavera de la Reina: Gomez - Real Madrid: Mastantuono, G. Garcia, Rodrygo
Third-tier Talavera de la Reina upset Malaga of the Segunda Division to reach this stage. They warmed up for this high-profile tie with a 2-1 league win over Merida. However, they are just one place off the bottom of their section of the Primera Federacion.
Real Madrid head into this match after a much-needed 2-1 win at Alaves in La Liga. That result helped slightly ease the pressure on Xabi Alonso.
Los Blancos had won just two of their previous eight games in all competitions. The Copa del Rey is not a big priority for them, but Alonso surely cannot afford to lose this tie.
Predicted lineups for Talavera de la Reina vs Real Madrid
Talavera de la Reina expected lineup: Gonzalez, Barreno, Molina, Lopez, Rodriguez, Arroyo, Capo, Doncel, Montero, Di Renzo, Gomez
Real Madrid expected lineup: Lunin, F. Garcia, Huijsen, Rudiger, Asencio, Guler, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Rodrygo, G. Garcia, Mastantuono
