Preview: Almeria vs. Real Betis - prediction, team news, lineups

La Union are rock bottom of the table on three points, while Real Betis are up in seventh, just one point behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao ahead of the next set of fixtures in Spain's top flight.

Match preview

Almeria are the only team yet to triumph in La Liga this season, with the strugglers boasting a record of three draws and 11 defeats from their 14 matches, sitting at the bottom of the division on three points.

UDA have actually scored 16 times in La Liga this season, which is far from the worst attacking record, but they have comfortably the worst defensive record, conceding 37 times in their opening 14 games.

Gaizka Garitano has been in charge since the start of October, but he has found it difficult to make a difference, losing all five of his league games in charge, but Almeria did manage to progress in the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Talavera at the end of October.

Rojiblancos will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Getafe, and they have not managed to avoid defeat in the league since the start of October, playing out a 3-3 draw with Granada.

Almeria only just survived relegation on the final matchday of last season, ultimately finishing 17th, and it does appear that it will be another very tough campaign for the club.

Real Betis, in contrast, are unbeaten in the league since the middle of September, and they have won three of their last four in the Spain's top flight during an impressive run of form.

The Seville outfit are currently seventh in the La Liga table on 24 points, boasting a record of six wins, six draws and two defeats from 14 matches, which has left them just a point off both sixth-placed Real Sociedad and fifth-placed Athletic.

The top four have started to open up some ground, with the likes of Athletic, Real Sociedad and Real Betis attempting to remain in touch, demonstrating the importance of this weekend's contest, but Manuel Pellegrini's side will not have had much time to prepare for it.

Indeed, the Green and Whites were in Europa League action on Thursday evening, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Sparta Prague, but they remain top of Group C, one point clear of second-placed Rangers ahead of what is set to be a fascinating match in Spain on December 14.

Real Betis, who won both league matches against Almeria last term, finished sixth in La Liga in 2022-23, and it would not be a surprise to see them in a similar spot this season.

Almeria La Liga form:

L

L

L

L

L

L

Almeria form (all competitions):

L

L

W

L

L

L

Real Betis La Liga form:

D

D

W

W

D

W

Real Betis form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

W

L

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Team News

Almeria will be missing five players on Sunday due to injury, with Marko Milovanovic, Ibrahima Kone, Luis Suarez, Marc Pubill and Martin Svidersky unavailable for selection.

There were certainly positives to take from the team's last game against Getafe, so it is expected to be a similar side for this match, with Largie Ramazani again potentially featuring through the middle.

There might be just the one change from the side that took to the field for the first whistle last weekend, with Lazaro possibly replacing Adri Embarba in a wide position.

As for Real Betis, William Carvalho, Claudio Bravo, Youssouf Sabaly and Marc Bartra are on the sidelines due to injury problems, while Rodri is a doubt due to a muscular problem.

There will be changes to the side that featured from the start against Sparta Prague in the Europa League, with Isco, Ayoze Perez, Luis Henrique, Juan Miranda and Hector Bellerin among those set to return.

There will also be a recall at centre-forward for Willian Jose, who has found the back of the net on 10 occasions in 16 appearances during an impressive campaign to date.

Almeria possible starting lineup:

Maximiano; Mendes, Chumi, Gonzalez, Akieme; Baba, Robertone; Baptistao, Arribas, Lazaro; Ramazani

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Vieites; Bellerin, Pezzella, Riad, Miranda; Rodriguez, Guardado; Henrique, Isco, Perez; Willian Jose

We say: Almeria 1-2 Real Betis

Off the back of a tough European assignment, this has the potential to be a tricky match for Real Betis, and we are expecting it to be a close contest. Almeria have enough attacking quality to score, but we believe that the away side's additional quality will allow them secure an important three points.

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