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Real Betis logo
La Liga | Gameweek 31
Apr 12, 2024 at 8pm UK
Estadio Benito Villamarin
Celta Vigo logo

Betis
2 - 1
Celta Vigo

Miranda (53'), Fekir (83')
Pezzella (45+2')
FT(HT: 0-0)

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

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

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

Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini reacts on February 22, 2024© Reuters

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.

Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 17, 2024© Reuters

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.

Real Betis La Liga form:


Real Betis form (all competitions):


Celta Vigo La Liga form:


Team News

Real Betis' Cedric Bakambu celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 22, 2024© Reuters

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


SM words green background

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.




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Game History

How you voted: Betis vs Celta Vigo

Real Betis
57.1%
Draw
25.5%
Celta Vigo
17.3%
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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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