Barcelona Opens as 2-1 Favorite to Win 2019-20 Copa del Rey

• After seeing last season end in disappointment in tournament play, FC Barcelona return to action as strong +200 favorites on the Copa del Rey futures odds
• Real Madrid has reached the Copa del Rey semifinal just once since 2014, but closely trail Barca as +275 second-favorites
• Atletico Madrid sit third on the Copa del Rey odds at +600, well ahead of defending champions Valencia, who lag at +1000

FC Barcelona got their La Liga schedule off to a disappointing start last weekend, dropping a 1-0 decision to Athletic Club Bilbao, and extending the woes that marked the end of their 2018/2019 campaign. However, Barca’s slow start has failed to shake their position on the odds to win this season’s Copa del Rey, where they remain pegged as +200 favorites.

Odds to Win 2019 Copa del Rey

*Odds taken 8/21/19

Barca Still Struggling With Season-Ending Swoon

Barcelona emerged as the most dominant club in Spain for most of last season, posting just two losses through their first 35 matches. However, the club closed out the campaign on a shaky note, particularly in Copa del Rey action, posting wins in just three of their final seven matches.

This was capped by a stunning 2-1 loss to Valencia in the tournament final, to end a run of four straight tournament championship victories.

The club also showed signs of fatigue down the stretch in league play. Barca earned a full three points in just one of their final five road matches last season, and saw their road struggles extend to UEFA Champions League action, suffering a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield that bounced them from the tournament semifinal.

Barca earned a full three points in just one of their final five road matches last season, and saw their road struggles extend to UEFA Champions League action.

With a lot to prove and a roster bolstered by the addition of forward, Antoine Griezmann, who joins the club after coming over from rival Atletico Madrid in an offseason transfer, nothing less than a clean sweep of league and tournament titles remains the goal for Barcelona in the upcoming campaign.

The worst-kept secret in Spanish football was confirmed on Friday when Barcelona paid Atletico Madrid 120m euros (£107.7m) to sign Antoine Griezmann.

…But the transfer itself is causing plenty of questions.

Read: https://t.co/grIGCx6SzC pic.twitter.com/filFcb2qc5

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 13, 2019

Barca have dominated the Copa del Rey in recent years, suffering just six defeats in 54 total matches since the start of the 2013/2014 season, and reaching the tournament final in each of the past six years.

However, they can can expect to face stiff competition from multiple rivals when they join the Copa del Rey fray in the Round of 32 in late January. Aiming to bounce back from a disappointing season of their own, Real Madrid sits a close second to Barca on the Copa del Rey championship odds as a +275 bet to claim their first title since 2014.

Past Copa del Rey Winners

Atletico Madrid is faced with the task of replacing Griezmann, and promising young defender Lucas Hernandez, who left town in a transfer to Munich. However, Real’s crosstown rivals are pegged at a healthy +600 on the Copa del Rey odds, while defending tournament champions Valencia round out the front of the pack at +1000.

Valencia Face Huge Task in Copa del Rey Title Defense

For Valencia, last year’s championship win continued a run of steady success in the Copa del Rey, with the club advancing at least as far as the semifinals in three of the past four seasons.

Valencia remained somewhat quiet this past summer, with their biggest splash on the transfer market coming in the form of goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, who is expected to battle for the starting assignment after seeing limited action in three seasons with Barca.

Jasper Cillessen played the Copa del Rey final with Barcelona against Valencia and lost it

Then he moved to Valencia and at the weekend he received a guard of honour and celebrated the trophy that he lost with Barcelona. His face 😂 pic.twitter.com/O5XF6pK5dy

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) August 19, 2019

But while Los Ches are positioned to at least maintain their perch above the line on the La Liga table, they face a huge task in their bid to duplicate last year’s impressive run that lifted them to their first Copa del Rey title since 2008, including favorable knockout round matchups with Getafe and Real Betis prior to their upset victory over Barca.

Offseason Spending Spree Fueling Real Resurgence

Real have endured steady disappointment at the Copa del Rey since reaching the final on three occasions between 2011 and 2014. The club followed up their 2014 championship win with four straight early exits before advancing to the semifinal at last season’s tournament.

Los Blancos were also forced to settle for a distant third-place finish in the La Liga table, 19 points back of Barca, and also failed to get past the round of 16 in Champions League play. This ended a run of three straight UCL titles.

Eden Hazard 🇧🇪
CAREER| The journey of Hazard showing all his transfers ✍️. He left the Premier League as the big star ⭐️ in a deal worth €100million.
Is he worth the money? pic.twitter.com/1misIFIylt

— Uglavnom Zanimljivo (@UglavnomZ) August 19, 2019

But the club has taken steps to fill the massive void left by the departure of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo a year ago. They’ve added Belgian superstar Eden Hazard in a €100 million transfer deal with Chelsea. Hazard is joined by Serbian striker Luka Jovic, who comes over from Eintracht Frankfurt.

As well as defenders Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy, strengthening the club on both sides of the ball, and leaving them well-positioned to return to glory at both the league and tournament levels.

Pick: Real Madrid (+275)