Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-1
Best Odds: 129/20
Real Betis and Barcelona will lock horns with each other in La Liga this coming weekend. The match between Manuel Pellegrini’s team and Hansi Flick’s side will be held at Estadio Benito Villamarin and is scheduled to kick off at 3:15pm UK time on Saturday.
Real Betis
Real Betis are a big and established club in La Liga who regularly try to do well and aim for the European places in the table. The Andalusian club have played in the UEFA Champions League before, and last season they finished as high as seventh in the standings.
Betis were expected to push on under manager Manuel Pellegrini this season, but things have not panned out as planned so far. Los Verdiblancos are 10th in the La Liga table at the moment with 20 points from 15 matches. They are seven points above the relegation zone and are only six points off the final UEFA Champions League spot.
Los Verderones will take on Sant Andreu away from home in the second round of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday evening before facing Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin in La Liga on Saturday afternoon. Betis went down 2-0 to Real Sociedad away from home in La Liga this past weekend which came after a 2-1 loss at the hands of Mlada Boleslav in the League Stage of the UEFA Conference League.
Team News:
Real Betis are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Barcelona. Rui Silva will be in goal for the home team. Youssouf Sabaly, Marc Bartra, Diego Llorente and Romain Perraud will be the four defenders. Carlos Guirao and Sergi Altimira will be the two holding midfielders. Jesus Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso and Abde Ezzalzouli are likely to be the three attacking midfielders. Vitor Roque will lead the line for Betis.
Barcelona
Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in the world and are a renewed force under manager Hansi Flick. Flick was appointed the Barcelona head coach in the summer of 2024, and until recently, the Blaugrana have been flying, both in Spain and Europe.
The Blaugrana are still at the top of the La Liga table, but defending champions and bitter rivals Real Madrid are catching up fast. Barcelona have picked up 34 points from 15 matches. Madrid are second in the table with 33 points. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have played 14 games. Barcelona are third in the UEFA Champions League League Stage table with 12 points from matches, three points behind leaders Liverpool.
Barcelona will take on Real Mallorca away from home in La Liga on Tuesday evening before facing Real Betis in the league this coming weekend. Flick’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Las Palmas at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in La Liga this past weekend which came after a 3-0 victory over Brest at home in the League Stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Despite the poor form of late, Flick is bullish about his side and has been quoted as saying by The Japan Times: “For me, the good news is that November is over and we are in December. The team has given a lot in those games, in the midfield we have had a lot of intensity and we have been very disciplined. We created chances but we have to finish better. It may seem like I’m making excuses, but we lost. We have to be focused in attack. We can’t afford to have two or three chances and do not score them. In football it’s the goals that count.”
Team News:
Barcelona are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Real Betis. Inaki Pena will be in goal for the visiting team and will have Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsí, Inigo Martínez and Alejandro Balde in front of him in goal. Gavi and Pedri will be the two holding midfielders. Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Pablo Torre are likely to be the three attacking midfielders. Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for Barcelona.
Key Factors to Consider
- Real Betis have won 2 of their last 6 La Liga games.
- Real Betis have scored 16 goals in 15 La Liga games.
- Barcelona have lost 2 of their last 3 La Liga matches.
- Barcelona have scored 43 goals in 15 La Liga matches this season.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored 15 goals and given 2 assists in 15 La Liga matches for Barcelona this season.
Conclusion
Real Betis are in bad form at the moment and so are Barcelona. Although Betis have the home advantage, Barcelona have a better team. It is very likely that the Blaugrana will pick up all three points from the La Liga game at Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-1
Best Odds: 129/20
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
