Real Betis will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome relegation-threatened Cadiz to Seville on Sunday afternoon.
The home side are currently fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad, while Cadiz are 15th, only one point outside of the relegation zone in Spain's top flight.
Match preview
© Reuters
Real Betis are firmly in the mix for a top-four spot at this stage of the campaign, picking up 45 points from their 27 matches, which has left them in fifth position in the table.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are only three points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad, and it does appear that the two teams, alongside Villarreal, will battle for fourth position in the table, as Atletico Madrid are now comfortably third, six points ahead of Real Sociedad.
Real Betis have actually only won one of their last six matches in all competitions, which is a run of form that includes losses to Manchester United in the Europa League, while they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Atletico in Spain's top flight last Sunday, with Angel Correa hitting the winner late on.
The Green and Whites have not finished fourth in La Liga since 2005, while they were playing Segunda Division football eight years ago, so it would be a huge achievement to claim a Champions League spot for next term.
El Glorioso have been strong at home this season, picking up 24 points from 13 matches, and they will be facing a Cadiz outfit that have won just twice on their travels in the league this term.
© Reuters
Cadiz are in their third straight season in Spain's top flight, which is their best run at this level since the early 1990s, and they will be desperate to extend that into a fourth campaign.
It is not a surprise to see the Yellow Submarine close to the relegation zone at this stage of the season, with a total of 28 points from 27 matches leaving them in 15th, just one point clear of 18th-placed Espanyol.
There are only four points between 13th-placed Sevilla and 19th-placed Almeria heading into the next set of matches, with only Elche - bottom on 13 points - being cut adrift.
Sergio Gonzalez's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 home loss to Sevilla last weekend, which proved to be their first defeat in the league since the middle of February.
Cadiz held Real Betis to a goalless draw in the reverse match earlier this season, while it was 1-1 when the two teams locked horns for the corresponding match during the 2021-22 campaign.
Team News
© Reuters
As was the case against Atletico last time out, Real Betis will be without the services of Youssouf Sabaly, Nabil Fekir and Juan Cruz due to fitness problems.
However, the Green and Whites will be boosted by the returns of Andres Guardado and Sergio Canales, with the pair available again after serving suspensions.
Head coach Pellegrini is expected to switch back to a 4-3-3 formation for this match, with Canales potentially coming in to replace Luiz Henrique, while Juanmi could also be back in the starting side.
As for Cadiz, Gonzalo Escalante, Brian Ocampo, Juan Cala, Jon Ander Garrido and Joseba Zaldua will all be unavailable for selection due to injury.
Meanwhile, Jeremias Ledesma will again miss out through suspension, but Iza Carcelen is available after serving his ban in the loss to Sevilla last time out.
Carcelen will come back into the starting side at right-back, while there could be a role in the final third for Roger, with Alvaro Negredo likely to drop down to the bench.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Ruibal, Ruiz, Felipe, Miranda; Carvalho, Rodriguez; Perez, Canales, Juanmi; Iglesias
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Gil; Carcelen, Hernandez, Fali, Espino; Alejo, Fede, Alcaraz, Sobrino; Guardiola, Roger
We say: Real Betis 2-0 Cadiz
Real Betis need to return to winning ways this weekend, with the club looking to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish, and we are expecting them to triumph. Cadiz are capable of picking up some big results, but we are finding it difficult to predict anything other than a comfortable home success here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
