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Real Betis logo
La Liga | Gameweek 20
Feb 4, 2023 at 8pm UK
Estadio Benito Villamarín
Celta Vigo logo

Betis
3 - 4
Celta Vigo

Juanmi (9'), Canales (23'), Fekir (84' pen.)
Henrique (88'), Joaquin (90+6')
Felipe (90+5')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Strand Larsen (6'), Veiga (42', 56'), Aidoo (69')
de la Torre (73'), Nunez (90+5'), Aspas (90+10')

Preview: Real Betis vs. Celta Vigo - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between Real Betis and Celta Vigo, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Real Betis will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they welcome Celta Vigo to Estadio Benito Villamarin on Saturday evening.

Manuel Pellegrini's side will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Barcelona on Wednesday, while Celta recorded a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.


Match preview

Real Betis' Nabil Fekir celebrates scoring against Barcelona on January 12, 2023© Reuters

Real Betis have now lost four of their last five matches in all competitions during a difficult run, including a 2-1 home reverse to Barcelona in La Liga on Wednesday, with second-half goals from Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski proving to be enough for the visitors to triumph.

Pellegrini's team also lost at Espanyol in the league on January 21, while they were beaten on penalties by Barcelona and Osasuna in back-to-back matches in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey respectively.

The Green and Whites are still enjoying a strong La Liga campaign, though, picking up 31 points from 19 matches courtesy of a record of nine wins, four draws and six defeats.

El Glorioso are currently sixth in the table, just three points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, and they will be looking to secure a healthy points return from their next four games against Celta, Almeria, Real Valladolid and Elche before hosting Real Madrid at the start of March.

Real Betis have not finished in La Liga's top four since the 2004-05 campaign, so it would be some achievement if Pellegrini was able to guide the side to a Champions League spot this term.

Barcelona's Gavi in action with Celta Vigo's Oscar Rodriguez on October 9, 2022© Reuters

Celta, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a 1-0 victory over Athletic on Sunday, with Iago Aspas netting the only goal of the match in the 71st minute.

The result moved the Sky Blues out of the bottom three and into 16th, but they are only one point ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz, with a whole host of sides currently in the relegation mix.

Celta have only actually lost one of their last six league matches, but Carlos Carvalhal's side have two tough matches after this one, facing Atletico at home and Real Sociedad on their travels.

The Vigo outfit have been in La Liga for the last 11 seasons, so it would certainly be a surprise if they were relegated from the top flight this term.

Celta have only picked up seven points from their nine away league games this season, but they did beat Real Betis 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this term, while the strugglers are unbeaten against Saturday's opponents in La Liga since May 2021, picking up seven points from their last three encounters.

Real Betis La Liga form:


Real Betis form (all competitions):


Celta Vigo La Liga form:


Celta Vigo form (all competitions):



Team News

Real Betis forward Borja Iglesias pictured in May 2022© Reuters

Real Betis will again be missing Juan Cruz due to a hamstring problem, while William Carvalho is suspended following his red card against Barcelona on Wednesday night.

There are not expected to be any major changes from the side that started against the league leaders, with Borja Iglesias again set to lead the line with support from Luiz Henrique, Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales.

Andres Guardado is likely to replace Carvalho in central midfield, with Willian Jose, Juanmi and Rodri again set to start among the substitutes for the home side in this match.

Ayoze Perez moved to Real Betis on loan from Leicester City on transfer deadline day, and the 29-year-old will be in contention to make his debut in this match.

Celta, meanwhile, have had relatively few fitness problems this season, and Carvalhal is again expected to have a fully-fit squad to choose from on Saturday night.

There were two half-time changes against Athletic, with Fran Beltran and Jorgen Strand Larsen entering the field, and it would not be a shock to see both players feature in the first XI here.

Larsen is expected to join Aspas in the final third of the field, while Beltran could replace Renato Tapia in the middle of the park for the visitors.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Ruibal, Pezzella, Felipe, Abner; Guardado, Rodriguez; Henrique, Fekir, Canales; Iglesias

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Marchesin; Mingueza, Aidoo, Nunez, Galan; Perez, Beltran, Rodriguez, De la Torre; Larsen, Aspas


SM words green background

We say: Real Betis 1-0 Celta Vigo

Celta will certainly be the fresher of the two sides entering this match, and they will fancy their chances of making it a difficult game for the hosts. Real Betis have generally been quite strong at home this term, though, picking up 17 points from nine matches, and Pellegrini's side will be desperate to bounce back from their loss to Barcelona, so we have settled on a low-scoring home success.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Betis vs Celta Vigo

Real Betis
72.9%
Draw
17.1%
Celta Vigo
10.0%
70
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Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring against Real Betis on January 12, 2023
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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