Real Betis vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This is a clash between two of the more proactive pretenders to the top four in the UEFA Champions League as Real Betis take on Villarreal at La Cartuja in Seville this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / Disney+ / US – ESPN+
Real Betis preview: Entertaining Betis
Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis come into this one on the back of a hard-fought 2-1 defeat of Elche at La Cartuja in Seville in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey the other day, courtesy of a come from behind brace scored by Chimy Avila.
The Andalusians begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just outside of the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots. They have been in inconsistent form of late and could do with rediscovering some fluency in the final third.
Villarreal preview: Cusp of the title race
Villarreal begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting four points behind Real Madrid and eight points adrift of Barcelona at the top-of-the-table, albeit with a game-in-hand, under the management of former Valencia boss Marcelino.
Villarreal come into this one on the back of an impressive 3-1 defeat of Deportivo Alaves at El Madrigal in their most recent outing, last weekend, courtesy of strikes from Alberto Moleiro, Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze.
Real Betis team news: AFCON absentees
Real Betis remain without defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and winger Abde Ez as they are with Morocco in the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in north Africa.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alex Valles; Hector Bellerin, Marc Bartra, Diego Llorente, Rodriguez; Pablo Fornals, Marc Roca; Antony, Lo Celso, Aitor Ruibal; Cuch
Unavailable: Angel Ortiz (Injured), Junior Firpo (Injured), Amrabat (International duty), Isco (Injured), Abde Ez (International duty)
Questionable:
Villarreal team news: Their own AFCON absentees
The final of AFCON is between Senegal and Morocco. Villarreal are therefore without Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye and versatile Morocco attacker Ilias Akhomach.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Junior; Santiago Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Alfonso; Buchanan, Dani Parejo, Santi Comesana, Alberto Moleiro; Mikautadze, Ayoze
Unavailable: Costa (Injured), Kambwala (Injured), Gueye (International duty), Pau Cabanes (Injured), Akhomach (International duty)
Questionable:
Real Betis vs Villarreal prediction
Real Betis play a brilliant style of football. Manuel Pellegrini’s Los Verdiblancos are often free flowing and play with abandon in the final third but they are expected to welcome a Villarreal side that have a lot of depth in the final third and, despite their UEFA Champions League football in midweek, have very little else to worry about than La Liga action and so siding with the Yellow Submarine may well be a good bet for this one down in the south of Spain.
Real Betis vs Villarreal tip: Double chance – Villarreal to win or draw
