Copa del Rey: Athletic Bilbao vs Mirandes Odds and Betting Preview

BILBAO, SPAIN - Athletic Bilbao face relative minnows Mirandes in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final this evening. The La Liga side (Athletic) have a 2-1 lead over the Segunda B side going into the second leg, and they are best at 1/3 (bet £3 to win £1) on Betfair to win the second leg game as well. Mirandes need a win of some sort to have any chance of progressing into the final and they are best at 11/1 with Bet Victor to beat Athletic this evening. Punters can get a best price of 9/2 on the draw with Stan James, while most other firms offer around 4/1.

Mirandes got an important consolation goal at the end of the first leg to give them a bigger glimmer of hope going into the second leg, but Athletic are still incredibly short at 1/33 (best with Bet365) to qualify from the tie. Mirandes are best at 14/1 with Bet365 to make it into the final, which requires an away win which isn't by a 1-0 scoreline (given the away goals rule). If the game does end in a 2-1 Mirandes win, which is best at 33/1 with Bet Victor and around 25/1 elsewhere, then the game would go into extra-time and, if needed, penalties. Paddy Power offer 125/1 for both Athletic and Mirandes to go through on penalties.

Mirandes have managed to knock out three La Liga oufits so far in the competitino, in Villareal, Racing Santander and Espanyol - the latter actually after a first leg defeat by a one-goal margin (3-2), albeit away from home. The three wins Mirandes have enjoyed over La Liga teams in the competition have been 2-0, 2-0 and 2-1 respectively, with the first 2-0 win coming away from home, at El Madrigal, Villareal. 2-0 to Mirandes is 70/1 with Paddy Power (and around 50/1 with most others), while the 1-0 away win is best at 22/1 with Coral, in the teens with most other firms.

Athletic should do a fairly professional job however, as the odds suggest, and won't play a weakened team given the stage of the competition and what is at stake. They are 6th in La Liga, and this is undoubtedly their only chance of silverware this season. With Valencia still very much in their tie against Barcelona in the other semi-final (1-1 going into the second leg), Athletic should seize this opportunity to get to their 36th final in the history of the Copa del Rey.

1-0 to Athletic is 6/1 with Blue Square, Coral and Betfred, 2-0 is best at 11/2 only with Coral while you can get 8/1 on 2-1 to Athletic with Bet365, Bodog and Bet Victor, amongst others. 

Athletic have a not too shabby home record this season, though at home to the weakest sides in the division, they have occasionally stumbled, which will undoubtedly encourage Mirandes. They have 6 points from a possible 18 at home to sides in the bottom half of the table, losing to 18th-placed Granada and 16th-placed Real Betis.

However, if you see nothing but an easy Athletic win tonight, you can back them to win both halves at 15/8 with Coral, and at 11/10 with the same firm to win to nil. They are best at evens with Boylesports to win with a (-1) goal handicap, and 12/5, best with Coral, to win with a (-2) goal handicap.

The match kicks off at 2100 GMT and is live on Sky Sports.

Match Result Odds