Real Betis will be bidding to halt a four-game losing run in La Liga when they resume their campaign at home to a relegation-threatened Celta Vigo outfit on Friday night.
The home side, who are eighth in the table, lost 3-2 at Girona last time out, while 17th-placed Celta will enter the contest off the back of a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano.
Match preview
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Real Betis' European hopes have suffered a blow in recent weeks, with Manuel Pellegrini's side losing their last four league fixtures against Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Rayo Vallecano and Girona.
Indeed, not since a 2-1 home success over Athletic Bilbao on February 25 have the Green and Whites picked up all three points in La Liga, and the disappointing form has seen them drop into eighth position in the table.
The Seville outfit are only two points behind seventh-placed Valencia but sit seven from Real Sociedad in sixth with only eight games left, so they have ground to make up if the club are to secure European football once again for the 2024-25 campaign.
Real Betis have finished sixth, fifth and sixth in their last three La Liga campaigns, so eighth would be a step backwards, but a win on Friday would lead them nicely into huge fixtures with Valencia and rivals Sevilla before the end of the month.
Pellegrini's team have picked up 27 points from their 15 home league matches this season, suffering only two defeats, and they will be welcoming a Celta outfit that have collected maximum points in just three of their 15 away league fixtures during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Celta sacked Rafael Benitez as head coach last month, with Claudio Giraldez being promoted to the top job from his role as boss of the club's B team, and the 36-year-old has made a strong start.
Indeed, the Sky Blues have picked up four points from their two games under their new manager, beating Sevilla 2-1 on March 17 before picking up a point in a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano last time out.
Celta still have plenty of work to do if they are to stay in Spain's top flight, though, as a difficult campaign has left them down in 17th spot in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.
The Vigo outfit have been present in La Liga since 2012, so it would be a surprise to see them drop into the second tier for next term, especially considering the strength of their squad.
Celta, who will end April with matches against Las Palmas and Alaves, have actually won their last three league games against Real Betis, including a 2-1 success in the reverse game earlier this season, while they are unbeaten against the Green and Whites since May 2021.
Team News
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Real Betis will have to make a late check on Marc Bartra, who has an Achilles injury, while Ezequiel Avila is suspended due to the yellow card that he picked up against Girona last time out.
Marc Roca and Cedric Bakambu are also injury doubts for the home side on Friday night.
Head coach Pellegrini is unlikely to shuffle his pack, as his side were close to claiming a point against Girona, conceding a third in the 92nd minute.
Willian Jose struck a brace and will again lead the line, while Isco and Nabil Fekir should also both retain their spots in the side, with Pablo Fornals and Ayoze Perez featuring in the wide areas.
As for Celta, Williot Swedberg, Joseph Aidoo and Carlos Dotor are on the sidelines through injury, while Mihailo Ristic is also a major doubt for the visitors due to a hamstring issue.
Carl Starfelt was substituted at the interval of the clash with Rayo Vallecano on March 31, but he is expected to be available for selection on Friday night.
Jorgen Strand Larsen has been in impressive form for the Sky Blues this season, finding the back of the net on 10 occasions in Spain's top flight, and he will again lead the line.
The goals have not flowed in quite the same manner for Iago Aspas, with the experienced forward only managing five in La Liga this season, but he should retain his spot in the first XI here.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Ruibal, Pezzella, Riad, Abner; Fornals, Isco, Rodriguez, Fekir, Perez; Willian Jose
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Mingueza, Starfelt, Dominguez; Alvarez, Beltran, Sotelo, Sanchez; Aspas, Larsen, Bamba
We say: Real Betis 1-1 Celta Vigo
Real Betis' recent record against Celta is surprisingly poor, losing four of their last five encounters at this level, and the visitors will enter this match in the better form.
Real Betis will be the favourites on home soil, but Celta have lost just one of their last three on their travels, and we can see the Sky Blues battling their way to a welcome point on Friday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
