Will Albacete confirm their status as favorites? Copa del Rey prediction: Puertollano vs Albacete
On Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 19:30 CET, the 1st-round (round-of-64) Copa del Rey match will take place at the Ciudad de Puertollano: modest Calvo Sotelo Puertollano host Segunda División side Albacete.
This cup tie is a regional affair, with both teams representing the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. However, the gap in quality and current form is enormous.
Under Javi Sánchez, Puertollano head into the biggest match of the autumn in a sorry state of mind: the club have gone five games without a win. Last weekend, Puertollano suffered a crushing 0-6 away defeat to Numancia, exposing catastrophic gaps in the heart of their defence.
At home, the team try to rely on hard work and a deep defensive block, but against opponents who are comfortable in possession, they quickly lose their shape and give away fouls dangerously close to the box.
Albacete, by contrast, are in superb form, having won three league games in a row. Away from home, Albacete outclassed a solid Leganés side 3-1, then comfortably beat Sabadell 2-1 and Eldense 2-0 at home.
Even allowing for some targeted squad rotation, the visitors’ strength in depth far surpasses the hosts’ first-choice side. Albacete’s attack excels at off-ball movement and is clinical from set pieces.
Albacete are expected to take complete control of possession from the opening seconds, stretching the hosts’ defensive line with quick overloads out wide. Puertollano will set up in a deep 5-4-1 block, banking on maximum compactness in their own box, physical duels and the hope of snatching a rare set piece or capitalising on a mistake by the visitors when they play out from the back.
It is worth noting that Segunda favorites in a one-off knockout tie will not want to leave the outcome until extra time. Aware of Puertollano’s defensive frailties, Albacete will look to build a comfortable lead in the first half and manage the second at a lower tempo.
What should you bet on in this match?
A three-division gap, the hosts’ recent 0-6 defeat to Numancia and the visitors’ three-game winning streak. Albacete should book their place in the next round without breaking a sweat. My prediction: Albacete to win.
