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

Manuel Pellegrini's men held Jose Mourinho's Roma to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night, while Almeria brought a four-game losing streak to an end last weekend, with a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano.

Match preview

Juggling both domestic and European football was always going to be the challenge for Real Betis this season, but so far, the side from Seville seem to be doing a good job.

Having qualified from their Europa League group with three wins and a draw, Los Verdiblancos find themselves level on points with Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in joint-fourth, having only lost twice so far this campaign.

The additional midweek football has taken its toll on a few of Pellegrini's players, however, with both Juanmi and Nabil Fekir likely to miss crucial upcoming games against teams in and around them, with a city derby against Sevilla on the horizon, too.

Last time out in LaLiga, Betis were thwarted by an early red card for the second time this month, drawing 0-0 with Real Valladolid as German Pezzella was sent off in the 36th minute for a last-man foul, just a week after Luiz Felipe was dismissed in the 20th minute for a similar offence.

Keep their discipline this time around, and the Andalusian side should have too much for their recently-promoted visitors, as they look to protect a 100% home record in the league this season.

Almeria, on the other hand, are yet to win away from home since their return to the top flight in August, hovering a point above the relegation zone with one victory in their last five.

The departure of Umar Sadiq has significantly weakened Rubi's side going forward, with the goals in last weekend's 3-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano being the first that Almeria had scored since the Nigerian striker left the club.

Nonetheless, a first goal in Spanish football for El Bilal Toure, as well as maiden LaLiga strikes for Lucas Robertone and defender Srdjan Babic, were huge confidence boosters for Los Rojiblancos, who almost doubled their goal tally for the season in one afternoon.

Adrian Embarba was particularly impressive on the right, while former Levante midfielder Gonzalo Melero showed his attacking potential with a first assist since joining the club.

It certainly will not be easy for last season's Segunda Division champions as they visit the side with the best home record in the league, but stranger things have happened on the weekends after European games.

Real Betis La Liga form:

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Real Betis form (all competitions):

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Almeria La Liga form:

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Team News

Last season's top-scorer Juanmi picked up an ankle injury in the sixth minute of last month's Europa League tie with HJK Helsinki, and will definitely miss out here, alongside Nabil Fekir, who pulled his hamstring last week in Rome.

21-year-old winger Luiz Henrique, signed in the summer from Fluminense, will continue to enjoy some game time in their absence, lining up alongside Sergio Canales and Rodri Sanchez once again. Borja Iglesias should start up front, having been given a rest in midweek.

German Pezzella will miss out due to his red-card suspension, but Luiz Felipe will return after serving his one-match ban.

For the visitors, Juanjo Nieto remains sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while centre-backs Alex Centelles and Chumi are also likely to be unavailable.

Adrian Embarba is suspended after a late second yellow last weekend, while Marko Milovanovic is still nursing a muscle injury, leaving El Bilal Toure and Largie Ramazani to fight it out for a starting spot up front. Rubi could go for the latter here, looking to use his pace on the counter.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Silva; Moreno, Ruiz, Felipe, Ruibal; Carvalho, Rodriguez; Rodri, Canales, Henrique; Iglesias

Almeria possible starting lineup:

Martinez, Akieme, Babic, Ely, Pozo; de la Hoz, Melero; Arnau, Robertone, Baptistao; Ramazani

We say: Real Betis 3-1 Almeria

Even after a taxing midweek contest in the Europa League, Real Betis were able to rotate their squad to allow for the return of key players this weekend.

They should have more than enough to deal with an Almeria side with just one point on the road so far this campaign.

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