The Real Betis will try this Thursday to qualify for the twelfth time in its history for the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, who already played for the last time in February 2019, when he lost the two-legged tie that faced him Valencia CF. Only once in its history has the Betis in two semifinals in a period of time less than two years, which can now be repeated, since in 1976 he lost the semifinals with Zaragoza and in 1977 he beat Espanyol, before winning the I Copa del Rey Juan Carlos on penalties to Athletic in 1977.
The first time that Betis reached the Cup semi-finals was in 1931, when they eliminated Arenas de Getxo in a tiebreaker match. The Verdiblancos were active in the Second Division at that time and the Biscayan in the First Division. In the first leg the Basques won 2-1 and in the second leg the Verdiblancos 1-0, also prevailing in the tiebreaker played in Chamartín (2-0). Saro played with the Basques, who two years later would sign for Patrick O'Connell's Betis, who would win the league title in 1935. The 1931 final -the first played by an Andalusian team- was lost by Betis 3-1 against Athletic, which that year doubled and also won the League.
The second semifinal cup was played by Betis in 1934 against Madrid, who won both games and ultimately became champion by beating Valencia in the final playing in Montjuic (2-1). The third semifinal was not played by Betis until 1961 and it was Madrid again who eliminated it. In 1966 Betis fell to Athletic, after drawing 1-1 at San Mamés on May 19 – the same day that Curro Romero cut eight ears in the Maestranza to six bulls from Urquijo – and losing the return 1-4 at Villamarín.
In 1976 it was Zaragoza who eliminated Betis in the semifinals, but a year later the Verdiblancos were planted in the final after defeating Espanyol in an agonizing semifinal, as they had lost the first leg 1-0 in Sarriá and in the second leg at Villamarín, Biosca forced extra time in 87 'and decided it in 92' with a header from a corner thrown by Cardeñosa. In the quarterfinals Betis had already eliminated Hercules on penalties and the final would later win against Athletic with the same formula, after Esnaola stopped two decisive penalties, first to Dani and then to Villar, which would have given him the title to the people from Bilbao having scored (they were the tenth, after Cardeñosa failed, and the second for sudden death, after Alabanda did the same). Then Esnaola would mark his and stopped the last of the very long round of twenty to José Ángel Iribar.
It was not until 1985 that Betis would play another semi-final, losing it to Athletic (2-0 at San Mamés and insufficient 1-0 at Villamarín). In 1994 the executioner of Betis – who was in the Second Division and had eliminated Barça from Cruyff's Dream Team in the quarterfinals with a goal by Juanito at the Camp Nou – was Zaragoza, while in 1997 Betis won a semifinal again by eliminating Celta in Balaídos (he would lose it later in extra time at the Bernabéu against Barça de Robson and Mourinho).
In 2005 Betis once again eliminated Athletic on penalties, this time in the semifinals played in San Mamés, after a double 0-0, and then they would win their last final against Osasuna in 2005 at the Calderón. Betis got into the semifinals was in 2019, against Valencia, after leaving Real Sociedad and Espanyol in the gutter. The Betis won 2-0 in 54 ', after an Olympic goal by Joaquín against Domenech, but Cheryshev (72') and Gameiro in discount (92 ') signed the tables and in the second leg a solitary goal by Rodrygo left Betis without its fifth ending. Of the four plays he won two (Athletic and Osasuna) and lost another two (Athletic and Barcelona).