Aiming to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to seven matches, Real Betis will welcome Celta Vigo to Estadio Benito Villamarin for a La Liga clash on Sunday afternoon.
Los Verdiblancos recorded a much-needed success in the Conference League on Thursday night, whereas Os Celestes have been afforded nearly a full week to recover from their top-flight battle with Getafe last time out.
Match preview
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After finishing seventh in the 2023-24 La Liga - four points above eighth-placed Villarreal - Real Betis secured their spot in this campaign's revamped Conference League, with the Spanish outfit arguably one of the favourites to win the competition alongside Premier League powerhouses Chelsea.
That being said, Los Verdiblancos were forced to wait until gameweek three for their maiden victory in the continental tournament on Thursday night, when an added-time strike from substitute and club legend Juanmi secured maximum points at the expense of Slovenian side Celje at Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Since returning from October's international pause, Real Betis have strung together a six-game unbeaten run across La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Conference League, with their most recent defeat arriving on October 6 at the home of city rivals Sevilla in Spain's top flight.
Fighting for a top-four finish and subsequent qualification for next term's Champions League, Manuel Pellegrini's troops are currently occupying seventh place in the La Liga standings ahead of Sunday's match, just two points behind fourth-placed Villarreal as the final international break of the calendar year approaches.
Collecting 13 points from their first six matches at Estadio Benito Villamarin this season, Real Betis have been a formidable opponent in front of their own supporters, with only Barcelona (3) and Mallorca (3) conceding fewer goals on home soil than Los Verdiblancos' four to date.
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After back-to-back defeats at the hands of Spanish champions Real Madrid and Leganes to conclude a mixed October schedule, Celta Vigo commenced their November plans in La Liga with a one-goal success over strugglers Getafe on Monday night at Estadio Abanca-Balaidos in Vigo.
For the first time since the trip to relegation candidates Las Palmas on October 5, Os Celestes managed to keep a clean sheet in a competitive fixture last time out, with a seventh-minute strike from Greek marksman Anastasios Douvikas proving to be the decisive moment in the contest.
Placing 13th in each of the last two campaigns, Celta Vigo are on a mission to break into the top half of the top flight for the first time since finishing eighth in 2021, with Sunday's visitors to Sevilla sitting 10th at this stage in the La Liga table, three points behind Athletic Bilbao in sixth.
Os Celestes will need to drastically improve their solidity on the road if they wish to mount an unlikely challenge for a European berth this campaign, with Claudio Giraldez's men conceding 13 goals across five away matches to date - only relegation-threatened Real Valladolid (18) have allowed more.
Despite turning 37 during the final stages of pre-season in August, Iago Aspas is still doing the business for Celta Vigo in what is his 15th campaign as part of the first team at the club, with 20-time Spain international providing seven goal contributions across 11 La Liga appearances.
Team News
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Real Betis are battling on without the services of their joint-leading marksman in Giovani Lo Celso, who made a sensational start to life in Sevilla before picking up a hamstring injury in October.
Los Verdiblancos' creative powers are further reduced by the absence of Isco, with the former Real Madrid star last featuring in May due to a serious ankle problem.
The hosts could be short of options at right-back should Hector Bellerin be unable to recover from a knock to play a part in La Liga on Sunday after missing the Conference League win earlier in the week.
Yet to kick a competitive ball for Celta Vigo this season, Luca de la Torre has been a major miss in the visitors' engine room so far in 2024-25.
Os Celestes are also unable to call upon the talents of Brazilian defender Jailson, who is targeting a return from a hamstring injury after the international break.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Sabaly, Bartra, Llorente, Perraud; Fornals, Losada, Cardoso, Ezzalzouli; Avila, Roque
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Mingueza, Moriba, Sotelo, Ristic; Aspas, Bamba, Douvikas
We say: Real Betis 2-1 Celta Vigo
Losing just once across six La Liga home matches so far this season, Real Betis should be confident of putting Celta Vigo to the sword in Sevilla on Sunday afternoon.
Os Celestes have enjoyed more time to prepare for this clash due to Los Verdiblancos' European adventures, although we still feel that the hosts should have enough for victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
