Real Betis will have the chance to secure European qualification when they travel to Gran Canaria for Thursday's La Liga clash with Las Palmas.
Having collected 55 points from 35 matches, the Andalusian side currently reside in sixth spot, while the hosts are down in 14th place with 37 points to their name.
Match preview
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After collecting 35 points from 24 matches, Las Palmas were sitting in eighth place and looking well set to achieve a top-half finish in their first La Liga campaign since 2017-18.
However, Las Palmas have since experienced a significant drop-off, losing nine of their last 11 games (D2) since claiming their most recent victory over Valencia on February 10.
In fact, Garcia Pimienta have lost each of their previous eight matches after their poor run of form continued with a narrow 1-0 defeat in Saturday's away meeting with Mallorca.
The Las Palmas boss will be concerned by the fact that his side have failed to score in seven of those eight matches, with their only goal in that run taking place in last month's 4-1 defeat to Celta Vigo.
Despite experiencing a woeful run of results, the 14th-placed side still boasts a sizeable eight-point cushion to the relegation zone with just three matches left to play against Real Betis, Cadiz and Alaves.
Although they are on the verge of safety, Las Palmas will still be hoping to halt their poor spell of form by beating Betis for the first time since December 2017.
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In contrast to their hosts, Betis will head into Thursday's contest in a confident mood after bouncing back from four consecutive defeats to put together a five-game unbeaten run (W4, D1).
Pablo Fornals, Isco and Ayoze Perez all got on the scoresheet to fire Betis to a 3-2 win in Sunday's home clash with basement side Almeria, moving Manuel Pellegrini's side into sixth place with three fixtures left to play against Las Palmas, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid.
Los Verdiblancos have established an eight-point over Valencia and Villarreal in eighth and ninth place respectively, and they will guarantee European football if they claim all three points on Thursday.
While European qualification may be a formality, Betis are sitting just one point ahead of Real Sociedad in the battle to secure a top-six finish and a spot in next season's Europa League.
After winning their last two away games against Valencia and Osasuna, Betis are hoping to record three consecutive away league victories for the first time since January/February 2023.
The first goal will be crucial to the visitors' hopes of claiming a positive result as Los Verdiblancos have lost all four of their La Liga away games where they have conceded first this season.
Team News
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Las Palmas defender Daley Sinkgraven and midfielder Maximo Perrone are both doubts after they missed Saturday's trip to Mallorca through injury.
Having served a one-match suspension, Sergi Cardona could come into the side to start in a back four alongside Alex Suarez, Saul Coco and Mika Marmol.
Pimienta could be tempted to bring some more fresh legs into the side, with Alberto Moleiro, Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez in contention to start against Betis.
As for the visitors, they are still without the injured quartet of German Pezzella, Marc Bartra, Chimy Avila and Cedric Bakambu.
Teenage winger Assane Diao is set to feature among the substitutes after returning to training following a two-game injury absence.
Having found the net in his last two appearances, Isco has now scored eight times in the league this season, and he will be looking to continue his fine form on Thursday, with the playmaker two goals away from hitting double digits for just the second time in his La Liga career.
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Valles; Suarez, Coco, Marmol, Cardona; Rodriguez, Moleiro, Loiodice; Park, Munir, Sandro
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Sabaly, Sokratis, Riad, Miranda; Rodriguez, Cardoso; Fornals, Isco, Perez; Willian Jose
We say: Las Palmas 0-2 Real Betis
Las Palmas will be bereft of confidence following an eight-game losing run, and we think that their struggles will be exploited by a Betis side who will be full of belief after winning four of their previous five matches, including their last two away trips.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Sully
