Both Real Betis and Villarreal will be aiming to bounce back from defeats when they lock horns at Estadio Benito Villamarin in Spain's top flight on Sunday evening.
The home side lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in La Liga last weekend, while Villarreal were thumped 4-0 by Marseille in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League contest on Thursday night.
Match preview
© Reuters
Real Betis finished sixth in La Liga last season, and that is the position Manuel Pellegrini's side occupy after 27 matches of the 2023-24 campaign, boasting a record of 10 wins, 12 draws and five losses to collect 42 points.
The Green and Whites hold a two-point advantage over seventh-placed Real Sociedad in the battle to finish in a European position, and they had been in strong form in the league before losing at Atletico last weekend.
Indeed, the Seville outfit brought a five-game unbeaten run into the clash with Diego Simeone's side, including a 3-1 success over fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, but they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Wanda Metropolitano.
Pellegrini's team have been strong at home this season, picking up 27 points from their 14 matches courtesy of a record of seven wins, six draws and one defeat, with Barcelona the only side to beat them at home this term.
Real Betis are unbeaten in their last three La Liga matches with Villarreal, meanwhile, and they will be looking to do a league double over the Yellow Submarine, having run out 2-1 winners in the reverse game back in August.
© Reuters
Villarreal were fifth in Spain's top flight last season, and they have only finished lower than seventh once in La Liga since being promoted from the Segunda Division in 2012-13.
However, the Yellow Submarine have struggled this term, only picking up 32 points from their 27 matches to sit in 12th position in the table, 10 points behind their opponents in this match.
Villarreal are actually unbeaten in their last seven in the league, recording three wins in the process, including back-to-back success over Real Sociedad and Granada.
However, Marcelino's side will enter this match off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Marseille in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League contest on Thursday night.
Villarreal therefore have a mountain to climb if they are to stay in the competition, but their recent league form will hand them confidence ahead of this match, with the team looking to move closer to the top half of the table.
Team News
© Reuters
Real Betis will be without the services of six first-team players on Sunday through injury, with Sergi Altimira, Aitor Ruibal, Cedric Bakambu, Abner Vinicius, Isco and Marc Bartra unavailable for selection.
The Seville outfit will also be missing German Pezzella due to the milestone yellow card that the centre-back picked up in the clash with Atletico last time out.
Head coach Pellegrini is expected to make changes to the side that started at Wanda Metropolitano, with William Carvalho, Guido Rodriguez, Ayoze Perez and Sokratis Papastathopoulos all in line to come into the XI.
As for Villarreal, Raul Albiol, Ramon Terrats, Juan Foyth and Denis Suarez remain unavailable, while Alfonso Pedraza will face a late fitness test on an ankle issue.
Head coach Marcelino will make changes to the side that started against Marseille in the Europa League, with Dani Parejo, Etienne Capoue, Kiko Femenia and Alexander Sorloth all set to return.
Alberto Moreno was sent off against Marseille but is available for this contest, and the Spaniard is expected to be introduced into the starting side this weekend.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Bellerin, Sokratis, Riad, Sabaly; Carvalho, Rodriguez; Fornals, Rodri, Perez; Willian Jose
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Reina; Femenia, Bailly, Mosquera, A Moreno; Comesana, Parejo, Capoue; G Moreno, Sorloth, Guedes
We say: Real Betis 2-1 Villarreal
Real Betis will certainly be the fresher of the two teams entering this match, and we are backing the Seville outfit to edge a close contest. Villarreal's recent form in La Liga has been strong, but Thursday's 4-0 loss at Marseille world have done some damage, and we are expecting a home success here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
