Bosnia And Herzegovina
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
South Korea
United Arab Emirates

Betisvs.Almeria

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 May 2024, 14:13
Real Betis will be bidding to strengthen their grip on a European spot in the La Liga table when they welcome already-relegated Almeria to Estadio Benito Villamarin on Sunday night.

The hosts are seventh, five points ahead of eighth-placed Valencia, while Almeria are rock bottom of the division, with their relegation to the Segunda Division already being confirmed.

Match preview

Real Betis finished sixth in La Liga last season, which saw them qualify for the group stage of the Europa League, but Manuel Pellegrini's side are currently seventh in Spain's top flight.

As it stands, the Seville outfit will be qualifying for the Conference League playoff round, but they are only two points behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad, while Valencia in eighth are just five points behind, so a lot could still change before the season ends later this month.

Real Betis will enter this match in strong form, picking up 10 points from the last 12 available courtesy of three wins and a draw, beating Celta Vigo, Valencia and Osasuna, in addition to sharing the points with Sevilla in the Seville derby.

Pellegrini's side have been strong at home this season, picking up 31 points from their 17 matches in front of their own fans, suffering just two defeats in the process.

Real Betis are also unbeaten in their last three league matches with Almeria, but the points were shared in a goalless draw when they locked horns for the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Almeria's relegation back to the Segunda Division has already been confirmed, with the strugglers rock bottom of the table, some 15 points behind 17th-placed Mallorca with just four games left.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been an incredibly tough campaign for La Union, but they will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 success over Rayo Vallecano last weekend.

Both of Almeria's league wins this season have come on their travels, also overcoming Las Palmas in the middle of March, and Pepe Mel's side will be bidding to make it back-to-back La Liga victories for the first time this term when they make the trip to Seville.

UDA will already be thinking about next season, and although there will be a big turnaround of players this summer, they will still be confident of making a strong push for an immediate return to the top flight.

Conceding goals has been a serious problem for Almeria this term, shipping 67 in their 34 league matches, which is unsurprisingly the worst defensive record in the division.

Real Betis La Liga form:

L

L

W

W

D

W

Almeria La Liga form:

W

L

D

L

L

W

Team News

Real Betis will welcome Isco back into their squad this weekend, with the experienced attacker missing out against Osasuna last time out due to a one-game suspension.

However, the team still have a number of injury problems, with Cedric Bakambu, Hector Bellerin and Marc Bartra definitely out, while German Pezzella, Assane Diao and Ezequiel Avila are major doubts.

Isco will return to the XI on Sunday, likely in place of Nabil Fekir, while Sokratis Papastathopoulos is on standby to feature in the middle of the defence if Pezzella does not pass a late fitness test.

As for Almeria, Aleksandar Radovanovic will again miss out through injury, while Gonzalo Melero, Largie Ramazani and Cesar Montes are all suspended for the division's basement outfit.

Lucas Robertone and Jonathan Viera are back from bans of their own, though, and the visitors have not reported any fresh fitness concerns ahead of the contest.

Both Robertone and Viera should return to the XI on Sunday evening, while there will be another start at centre-forward for Anthony Lozano, who registered in the success over Rayo.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Silva; Sabaly, Sokratis, Riad, Miranda; Rodriguez, Cardoso; Fornals, Isco, Perez; Willian Jose

Almeria possible starting lineup:

Maximiano; Pubill, E Gonzalez, Chumi, Centelles; Robertone, Pena; Baptistao, Viera, Embarba; Lozano

We say: Real Betis 2-0 Almeria

Almeria will certainly have gained confidence from their success over Rayo last time out, but this is a different test entirely, with Real Betis pushing for the top six, and we are expecting a routine home success for Pellegrini's side on Sunday night.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Como president Mirwan Suwarso has confirmed the Italian club attempted to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United in the winter transfer window. 13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign Real Madrid-linked defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson will reportedly miss around six weeks of action due to a hamstring injury. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reece James is set to return to the lineup for Chelsea's Premier League away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Virgil van Dijk couldn't resist making a dig at Everton players and fans after Liverpool were denied Merseyside's bragging rights at the death. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic's return to the Champions League knockout rounds ended in a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic's return to the Champions League knockout rounds ended in a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. 12 February 2025 talksport.com The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ended crazily with Arne Slot, Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure all getting sent off after the final whistle. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah both broke a Premier League record and extended one of his existing ones in the Reds' pulsating 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton at Goodison Park. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton and Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Wednesday night, with James Tarkowski scoring a dramatic last-gasp equaliser. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane has scored his first goal against a Scottish side, firing in for Bayern Munich in their Champions League knockout play-off first leg at Celtic. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Chelsea have been dealt another major injury blow with first choice striker Nicolas Jackson ruled out until April, talkSPORT understands. 12 February 2025 talksport.com West Ham's Jarrod Bowen has planted himself in the history books, and this time, it's in the Queen Vic rather than the London Stadium. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah made Premier League history with his role in Liverpool's equaliser at Everton. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reece James and Nicolas Jackson could start Chelsea's Premier League away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion captain Lewis Dunk is a major doubt for Friday's Premier League clash with Chelsea at the Amex Stadium. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Boavista have announced that they have strengthened their squad with the addition of nine players. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Six days after they locked horns in the FA Cup, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea will recommence battle when they meet in Friday's Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Everton and Liverpool will both be out for more than just bragging rights in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park tonight. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly had scouts at Sporting Lisbon's league contest with Porto last week to watch Geovany Quenda following claims that the Red Devils have a deal in place to sign the youngster this summer. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig are reportedly open to letting Benjamin Sesko leave during this summer's transfer window, with Arsenal and Manchester United said to be among the clubs interested in his services. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola reportedly views Bayer Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz as his 'dream replacement' for Kevin De Bruyne, but it will take an astronomical fee to secure his services. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Kai Havertz being ruled out for the rest of the season has created huge problems for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed that he wants Mohamed Salah at the club next season. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly 'serious contenders' to sign Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane this summer. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified Hertha Berlin youngster Ibrahim Maza as a potential summer transfer target. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United could reportedly battle the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool for the signature of RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba during this summer's transfer window. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh off yet another controversy, Turkish Super Lig's bottom side Adana Demirspor will host Antalyaspor at the New Adana Stadium on Friday to kick off round 24. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of scoring 1000 career goals has been given a big boost. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk David Moyes should be the manager that leads Everton into the move from Goodison Park to their new state-of-the-art home on Bramley-Moore Dock next season, former Toffees' midfielder Kevin Kilbane has exclusively told Sports Mole.
Something went wrong! Don't hesitate to let us know if you need any help.