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

Real Betis were last in league action on January 8, recording a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano, while Espanyol beat Getafe by the same scoreline in Spain's top flight last weekend.

Match preview

Espanyol were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 on Wednesday night, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, with Oscar de Marcos scoring the only goal of the match in the first period.

The Catalan outfit were winners in the league last time out, though, as Joselu and Javi Puado found the back of the net in a 2-1 success over Getafe, with the result leaving them in 14th position in the table.

There are only two points between Espanyol and 19th-placed Sevilla, though, so it could change so quickly, with a couple of poor results potentially dropping them into the relegation zone.

The White and Blues were relegated from Spain's top flight in 2019-20, but they secured an automatic return by winning the 2020-21 Segunda Division before finishing 14th in La Liga last term.

Diego Martinez's side actually have the third-worst home form in Spain's top flight this season, picking up just six points from eight matches, while they have not beaten Real Betis in La Liga since October 2017.

Real Betis, meanwhile, are preparing to return to league action for the first time since January 8 following back-to-back penalty-shootout defeats in two separate competitions.

Manuel Pellegrini's side lost to Barcelona on penalties in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on January 12 before being beaten by Osasuna on spot kicks in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night.

The Green and Whites still have plenty to play for this season, though, as they have progressed to the knockout round of the Europa League, while they are in a strong position in Spain's top flight.

Indeed, a record of eight wins, four draws and four defeats has seen them collect 28 points to sit sixth in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, with a game in hand on Diego Simeone's side.

Real Betis were 2-1 winners over Rayo Vallecano in their last league match on January 8, although they had gone three games without a victory in the league before the success last time out.

Pellegrini's team will certainly fancy their chances of making a strong challenge for a top-four finish this season, which is something that the club last achieved in 2005.

Espanyol La Liga form:

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D

L

D

D

W

Espanyol form (all competitions):

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D

W

D

W

L

Real Betis La Liga form:

L

W

D

L

D

W

Real Betis form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

L

L

Team News

Espanyol will have Brian Olivan available for selection once again, with the defender missing the league game against Getafe last time out through suspension.

Keidi Bare is still out with ligament damage, but Pol Lozano made his return from injury against Athletic in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.

Aleix Vidal, Alvaro Fernandez and Fernando Calero will be among those to earn recalls following the cup fixture, while Martin Braithwaite, Joselu and Puado are again expected to be the front three for the hosts.

As for Real Betis, Luiz Felipe is available again following a La Liga suspension and could return to the XI for this match, potentially featuring alongside Edgar Gonzalez in the middle of the defence.

Juan Cruz remains a doubt for the visitors due to a hamstring problem, but Pellegrini could otherwise have a full squad to choose from on Saturday.

There should be a couple of changes from the side that started against Osasuna in the Copa del Rey, with Borja Iglesias and Aitor Ruibal set to return to the starting side here.

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Calero, Montes, Cabrera; Vidal, Souza, Darder, Olivan; Braithwaite, Joselu, Puado

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Bravo; Ruibal, Felipe, Gonzalez, Moreno; Carvalho, Rodriguez; Henrique, Fekir, Canales; Iglesias

We say: Espanyol 1-2 Real Betis

This has the potential to be a very tricky game for Real Betis, who have had a busy January thus far. Pellegrini's team are full of quality, though, and we are expecting them to triumph here, with Espanyol finding it difficult to pick up positive results at home in the league this term.

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