Betis vs Real Sociedad: one carrying the Champions League halo, the other clutching the Copa del Rey trophy—who will get “carried away” first?

This match is quite interesting. Betis finished fifth last season and qualified for the Champions League; Real Sociedad, although they finished only tenth in the league, won the Copa del Rey. One has proven their consistency in the league, while the other has shown they can deliver in cup competitions—neither team is a pushover.
Betis’ biggest advantage is their consistency. Pellegrini remains in charge, and the squad has not changed much this summer, giving them strong continuity within their system. During preseason, Betis also defeated Lyon, Almería, and Arsenal, suggesting that the team is in decent shape ahead of the competitive matches.
Real Sociedad have a few more issues. The club did not complete any signings this summer, so squad depth remains a problem, and they lost consecutive preseason matches to Arsenal, Athletic Bilbao, and Chelsea. More importantly, although Oyarzabal has returned, he is not expected to start directly due to a lack of match rhythm.
That said, don’t forget that Real Sociedad are not without attacking threats. Kubo and Barrenetxea are both capable of causing problems, and the teams’ most recent league meeting ended 2-2, showing that neither side has an obvious “nemesis-like suppression” over the other.
I expect Betis to use their home advantage to take the initiative in possession, while Real Sociedad will rely more on quick transitions. The match is unlikely to be one-sided.
My final prediction: Betis to win.
Primary scoreline: 2-1.
Alternative: 1-1.
If Betis score first, the match could settle into the tempo-control mode they are familiar with; if Real Sociedad steal one first, the atmosphere in the stadium will probably instantly change from “new-season opener” to “the boss demanding everyone work overtime.”
In one sentence: Betis have the edge in quality and form, but Real Sociedad’s counterattacking ability is strong enough to make the hosts sweat.#五大联赛赛前预测官