Real Betis and Osasuna head into their fixture on Friday evening both looking to extend their perfect records at the start of the new La Liga season.
The two sides currently occupy third and fourth position in the standings respectively having accumulated the same points as Villarreal and Real Madrid.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having narrowly missed out on a top-four finish last season, Real Betis could have started the following campaign still feeling slightly deflated.
However, Manuel Pellegrini's team have been the exact opposite, getting the better of Elche and Mallorca to keep pace with some of the top teams in the division.
The fixtures will naturally get tougher, with Real Madrid to come at the start of September, but Los Verdiblancos have achieved everything expected of them thus far.
Their five goals have been shared by Borja Iglesias and Juanmi, and Pellegrini will hope that there is more to come from the remainder of the squad.
Even by failing to win any of their remaining six fixtures in 2021-22, Osasuna's 10th-placed finish was still another year of consolidation in the top flight.
A win over Sevilla on the opening day of this campaign has set the ball rolling for an even better return, with that success being followed by a 2-0 triumph over Cadiz.
Although Osasuna have benefitted from receiving two successive home matches, they have taken full advantage and can continue to play without added pressure over the coming weeks.
Jagoba Arrasate is now into his fifth campaign at Los Rojillos and keeping the club in contention for the European places will further enhance his own stock in his homeland.
All that said, it should be noted that three of Osasuna's four goals this campaign have come from the penalty spot.
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Last time out, Betis were involved in a game with Mallorca which featured an astonishing 15 yellow cards, seven of which were given to their opponents.
However, it appears that Betis came through that game unscathed from an injury perspective, something which could lead to Pellegrini selecting an unchanged team.
Martin Montoya and Victor Camarasa are among the players who remain sidelined for this fixture.
Unless any players pick up injuries in the build-up to this fixture, there is little reason why Arrasate would make any alterations to his Osasuna XI.
Although Kike Garcia scored as a substitute last time out, it was from the penalty spot, so Chimy Avila should retain his place down the middle of the attack.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Ruibal, Pezzella, Gonzalez, Moreno; Rodriguez, Carvalho; Rodri, Fekir, Juanmi; Iglesias
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Pena, U. Garcia, D. Garcia, Cruz; Avila, Moncayola, Torro, Gomez; Budimir, Oroz
We say: Real Betis 1-0 Osasuna
Giving the level of their start to the campaign, Osasuna should be respected ahead of this contest with the foundations having been laid in their opening two matches. However, we feel that Betis will do just about enough to edge this game, possibly by a single goal.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
