Real Betis will be aiming to return to winning ways in La Liga when they travel to Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday evening to take on Getafe.
The visitors will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 loss to Espanyol in the league, while Getafe were beaten by Barcelona at Camp Nou in their last match in Spain's top flight.
Match preview
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Getafe gave a good account of themselves in last weekend's trip to the leaders Barcelona, but Pedri's first-half effort won the match for the home side, and it is now four straight losses for Quique Sanchez Flores's team.
Indeed, the capital side have lost their last three in the league against Sevilla, Espanyol and Barcelona, in addition to suffering a 3-2 loss at Levante in the Copa del Rey earlier this month.
As a result, Getafe are still searching for their first victory of 2023, with their last success proving to be a 2-0 win over Mallorca in Spain's top flight at the end of December.
The Deep Blue Ones are currently 16th in the table, level on points with 18th-placed Real Valladolid, so they are very much in the mix for relegation at this stage of the campaign.
Getafe have only played outside of Spain's top flight for one season since 2004, but they will need to address their home form in order to ensure survival this term, having picked up just nine points from nine games in front of their own supporters.
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Real Betis, meanwhile, have enjoyed a successful season to date, particularly in La Liga, picking up 28 points from 17 matches to sit sixth in the table, just three points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, with a game in hand on Diego Simeone's side.
Manuel Pellegrini's team have also qualified for the knockout round of the Europa League, but they have lost each of their last three games in all competitions, including a penalty-shootout defeat to Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Sup in Saudi Arabia.
Real Betis then lost on spot kicks to Osasuna in the Copa del Rey on January 18 before the 1-0 defeat at Espanyol in the league last weekend, with Martin Braithwaite on the scoresheet for the hosts.
As a result, the Green and Whites have not won since beating Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in the league on January 8, and this match is even more important considering that their first game in February is at home to Barcelona.
Real Betis, who finished fifth in La Liga last season, beat Getafe 2-0 in Seville last season, but the points were shared in a goalless draw when they locked horns in Madrid.
Team News
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Getafe were missing both Munir El Haddadi and Mauro Arambarri through injury against Barcelona last time out, and the pair are expected to remain on the sidelines for this match.
The home side have not reported any fresh concerns, though, so it would not be a shock to see the same XI take to the field that started at Camp Nou.
Borja Mayoral could play slighter wider, as was the case against Barcelona, with Carles Alena featuring off the left and Enes Unal starting through the middle for the capital outfit.
As for Real Betis, Nabil Fekir, Juanmi and Juan Cruz will be absent through injury, but Luiz Felipe is back from a suspension.
Abner made his debut for the club against Espanyol last weekend, and the Brazilian is again expected to be in the starting XI for the Green and Whites in this match.
Pellegrini is unlikely to shuffle his pack despite the disappointment of the defeat to Espanyol, although Rodri could come into the side to replace Andres Guardado.
Borja Iglesias, meanwhile, should again get the nod to lead the line over Willian Jose.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Suarez, Dakonam, Duarte, Alderete, Iglesias; Mayoral, Algobia, Milla, Alena; Unal
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Ruibal, Pezzella, Felipe, Abner; Rodriguez, Carvalho; Henrique, Canales, Rodri; Iglesias
We say: Getafe 0-1 Real Betis
Real Betis will be desperate to get their top-four challenge back on track after a disappointing few weeks, and we are backing the visitors to triumph here. Getafe have lost their last four during a poor run of form, and a tight match on Saturday night should end with Real Betis picking up all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
