The latest instalment of the Seville derby will take place at Estadio Benito Villamarin on Sunday evening, with Real Betis welcoming Sevilla for what is shaping up to be a blockbuster contest.
Real Betis are in excellent form, posting five straight league wins to rise into sixth spot in the La Liga table, while Sevilla have only been beaten in one of their last five top-flight fixtures.
Match preview
© Imago
Real Betis have hit an excellent run of form at a vital stage of the campaign, with Manuel Pellegrini's side recording five straight league wins, including a 2-1 success at home to the champions Real Madrid at the start of the month.
The Green and Whites were 3-2 winners over Leganes before the March international break, while they are also in the quarter-finals of the Conference League, having thumped Vitoria de Guimaraes 6-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.
Real Betis have a record of 12 wins, eight draws and eight defeats from 28 league matches this season, which has left them sixth in the table on 44 points, level with fifth-placed Villarreal and eight behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.
Pellegrini's team have been impressive on home soil this season, picking up 26 points from their 14 league matches in front of their own fans, but Sevilla have a respectable 17 points to show from their 14 fixtures on their travels.
The Green and Whites have not actually beaten Sevilla in La Liga since September 2018, which is remarkable, but four of the last five Sevilla derbies in Spain's top flight have finished level, including 1-1 in the corresponding match last term.
© Imago
Sevilla did manage to post a derby win earlier this season, though, recording a 1-0 victory at Estadio Ramon, and they will now be aiming to complete a La Liga double over their rivals for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign.
Los Nervionenses finished down in 14th spot in Spain's top flight last term, which proved to be their worst campaign since being relegated at the end of the 1999-2000 season.
As a result, there has been plenty of room for improvement this term, and Garcia Pimienta's side are currently 10th in the division, picking up 36 points from their 28 matches this season.
Sevilla are only four points off seventh-placed Mallorca, but they are eight from Real Betis in sixth, so it will take some effort for them to catch their rivals in the latter stages of the campaign.
Garcia Pimienta's team entered the March international break off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao, but they recorded a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in their last away fixture on March 9.
Team News
© Imago
Real Betis will welcome Johnny Cardoso back into their squad this weekend, with the midfielder missing the clash with Leganes last time out through suspension.
However, Giovani Lo Celso and Marc Roca are again expected to be unavailable for selection due to fitness problems.
Head coach Pellegrini could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Leganes, although Cardoso is in a strong position when it comes to a recall, providing that he shakes off a minor injury concern.
On-loan Manchester United attacker Antony continues to impress for the Green and Whites, and there will be another start down the right for the Brazilian.
As for Sevilla, Tanguy Nianzou is out of the match due to a muscular problem, while both Djibril Sow and Lucien Agoume are suspended, with the pair picking up milestone yellow cards in the clash with Athletic.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is expected to be introduced in central midfield, while Saul Niguez may drop back into that area, allowing Juanlu Sanchez to feature in a more advanced area.
Isaac Romero remains the first choice through the middle, and he is in line for another start, while there will be a position in a wide area for Dodi Lukebakio, who has scored 11 times in La Liga during an impressive campaign.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Adrian; Sabaly, Llorente, Natan, Perraud; Cardoso, Altimira; Antony, Isco, Ezzalzouli; Hernandez
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Carmona, Bade, Salas, Pedrosa; Lokonga, Saul; Lukebakio, Juanlu, Ejuke; Romero
We say: Real Betis 2-1 Sevilla
Real Betis are winless in their last 12 La Liga matches with Sevilla, but we are expecting that run to come to an end this weekend; Pellegrini's side are in terrific form, and we are backing them to continue their European charge with another victory here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
