European-chasing Real Betis will switch their attention back to La Liga on Sunday evening, with Alaves their opponents at Estadio Benito Villamarin.
The hosts will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their Europa Conference League knockout round playoff clash, while Alaves drew 1-1 with Villarreal in the league last weekend.
Match preview
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Bruno Petkovic's 75th-minute penalty handed Dinamo a 1-0 victory over Real Betis in the first leg of their Europa Conference League knockout round playoff clash on Thursday, with Manuel Pellegrini's side therefore facing a battle to advance in the competition.
The Green and Whites have been in strong form in the league, though, picking up seven points from their last three matches, and they currently sit sixth in the table, one point ahead of seventh-placed Real Sociedad.
Real Betis are eight points behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, so it is going to be difficult for them to finish any higher than sixth this term, and they have found it tough to secure regular wins this term, only picking up maximum points in nine of their 24 league games.
Pellegrini's side have only scored 28 times in their 24 league games this season, which is comfortably the lowest record in the top six, while they have been the draw specialists in La Liga in 2023-24 alongside Mallorca and Cadiz, having shared the spoils on 11 occasions.
Real Betis have won four of their last five league matches against Alaves, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw when the two teams locked horns in the reverse fixture back in October.
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Alaves, meanwhile, have only won one of their last 11 league games against Real Betis, while they have managed just two league victories on their travels this season.
Real Betis have also lost only once at home in the league this term, demonstrating the size of the away side's task, but they will certainly be the fresher of the two teams this weekend.
Indeed, Alaves have not been in action since drawing 1-1 with Villarreal in La Liga last weekend, with the result leaving them in 12th position in the table on 27 points.
El Glorioso secured a return to Spain's top flight through last season's Segunda Division playoffs, so consolidating back at this level was always going to be their number one priority this season.
Luis Garcia's side are some 10 points clear of the relegation zone at this stage of proceedings and are also just two points behind Osasuna in 11th, so they have performed above expectations in 2023-24.
Team News
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Real Betis will be missing at least five players through injury on Sunday, with Abner Vinicius, Isco, Ayoze Perez, Guido Rodriguez and Marc Bartra all out, while Youssouf Sabaly remains a major doubt.
Head coach Pellegrini is expected to make changes to the side that started on Thursday, with Marc Roca, Hector Bellerin and Sokratis Papastathopoulos expected to return to the XI.
Pablo Fornals, who scored against Cadiz in the league last weekend, will also be back, while there should be another start at centre-forward for Willian Jose.
As for Alaves, Nahuel Tenaglia, Aleksandar Sedlar and Javi Lopez are out of the contest through injury.
Meanwhile, Rafa Marin had to be replaced in the 14th minute of the 1-1 draw with Villarreal last time out and is also expected to miss out, opening the door for Ruben Duarte to come into the back four.
Carlos Vicente is expected to benefit from Lopez's absence, but there are unlikely to be any further changes, with Samu Omorodion again set to lead the line for the Basque side.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Bellerin, Pezzella, Sokratis, Miranda; Cardoso, Roca; Fornals, Fekir, Ezzalzouli; Willian Jose
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Gorosabel, Abqar, Duarte, Vicente; Guevara, Blanco; Sola, Guridi, Rioja; Omorodion
We say: Real Betis 2-1 Alaves
Alaves will fancy their chances of picking up a positive result here due to Real Betis' injury problems and the quick turnaround from their last match, but the Seville outfit are in strong form in the league, and we are backing them to navigate their way to all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
