Real Betis will look to end a five-match run without a win in all competitions when they make the trip to face Alaves in the Copa del Rey on Saturday.
The hosts are also dealing with a tough run of form as they are without a win since the second round of this competition.
Match preview
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Alaves have been dealing with a tough run of form lately, having gone four games without a victory in La Liga, which is why getting to play in the Copa del Rey could provide a good distraction for the team.
Being able to play without the pressure of picking up points could be exactly what the team needs, considering they have not won a match since the previous round.
Alaves have been defensively impressive in the Copa del Rey so far, having kept clean sheets in both rounds while they also wowed fans by picking up a 10-0 win in the first round.
However, they will need a stronger performance than when they faced Real Betis in the league earlier this season as they shared the points in a 1-1 draw.
It took an own goal from Hector Bellerin to help Alaves to that result, and an improved effort will be required this time around to secure a place in the next round.
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The visitors have also been dealing with a difficult patch of form as of late as well, going five games across all competitions without a win, placing some pressure on the team in this match.
Manuel Pellegrini will want more from his team this weekend, and a win in the Copa del Rey could be the turning point that the team needs this season.
Concentration until the final minute will be important for Real Betis, which was a lesson that they learned in their most recent outing when they were beaten 2-1 by Celta Vigo.
They had taken the lead in the sixth minute courtesy of an Aitor Ruibal goal, but a lack of focus until the very end of the game cost them as they conceded in the 96th minute to lose the game.
That was a harsh lesson to learn, but one that the team can take into this fixture which could serve them well moving forward.
Team News
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Alaves will be able to call upon Ruben Duarte once again after he missed out on their most recent performance due to suspension, and he should slot straight back into the team.
Luis Rioja was one of the big positives from their most recent outing after he got himself on the scoresheet, and that should keep him in the team for this match.
Isco was brought back into the starting lineup immediately for Real Betis in their previous match following a spell on the sidelines due to suspension, and his experience will likely be tapped into once again here.
However, the visitors do have a plethora of players unavailable at the moment without Claudio Bravo, Marc Barta, Youssouf Sabaly, Guido Rodriguez, Nabil Fekir, and Bellerin all on the sidelines.
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Gorosabel, Abqar, Marin, Duarte; Blanco, Guevara; Rioja, Guridi, Rebbach; Omorodion
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Ruibal, Pezzella, Sokratis, Miranda; Altamira, Carvalho; Diao, Isco, Perez; Willian Jose
We say: Alaves 1-2 Real Betis
Recent form has showcased that neither team is playing particularly well, and that will place real pressure on each to get a positive result in this match.
Real Betis have been slightly stronger throughout the course of the season, which will give them a slight edge in terms of confidence heading into this one, which could be crucial.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
