Preview: Real Betis vs. Atletico Madrid - prediction, team

La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid will be looking to return to winning ways when they continue their domestic campaign away to Real Betis on Sunday evening.

Atletico, who lost 1-0 at Sevilla last weekend, are currently top of the table, one point clear of second-placed Barcelona, while in-form Betis occupy sixth position in Spain's top flight.

Match preview

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Betis finished 15th in La Liga last season but are enjoying a much-improved campaign, with a total of 46 points from 29 matches leaving them in sixth position in the table with nine games left.

Manuel Pellegrini 's side are actually level on points with fifth-placed Real Sociedad and seventh-placed Villarreal, with the three teams set to battle for the position immediately behind the top four.

The Seville-based outfit have only lost one of their last seven in the league, recording five wins in the process, including a 2-0 victory over Levante in their last home game on March 19.

Los Verdiblancos were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Elche last weekend, though, as Pere Milla cancelled out an early effort from Borja Iglesias at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.

Betis have been strong on home soil this term, winning eight of their 14 league matches, but Atletico have the third-best away record in Spain's top flight, recording nine victories from 14 fixtures.

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There is no question that Atletico will be feeling the heat at the top of the table as both Barca and Real Madrid are now in touching distance; indeed, second-placed Barca are just a point off the summit, while Real Madrid are only three points off their bitter rivals, all on the same number of games.

El Clasico takes place on Saturday, and Atletico will most likely be hoping for a draw between the two biggest clubs in Spanish football, with the pair hunting down the current leaders.

Diego Simeone 's side disappointingly bowed out of the Champions League to Chelsea courtesy of a 3-0 aggregate defeat, while they have won just two of their last five in the league, drawing with Real Madrid and Getafe, in addition to losing to Sevilla, during a difficult run.

Marcos Acuna scored the only goal of the contest at Estadio Ramon last weekend as Sevilla recorded a huge 1-0 victory, denting Atletico's title hopes in the process.

The Red and Whites are still in charge of their own destiny, though, and will certainly be aware of the importance of this weekend's contest against Pellegrini's improving side.

Real Betis La Liga form:

W

W

W

L

W

D

Atletico Madrid La Liga form:

W

D

W

D

W

L

Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):

D

W

D

L

W

L

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Team News

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Betis will be without the services of Victor Ruiz this weekend due to the booking that he picked up against Elche, meaning that Sidnei could feature in the back four.

Victor Camarasa and Dani Martin are both injured, while Andres Guardado and Iglesias are unlikely to be available for the contest with the league leaders.

Iglesias's spot in the final third of the field could be taken by Juanmi, while there should be another start in the middle of the park for William Carvalho alongside Guido Rodriguez.

As for Atletico, Luis Suarez was already suspended for this match, but the Uruguay international is now facing up to three weeks on the sidelines with a muscular problem that he picked up during a training session.

Geoffrey Kondogbia and Marcos Llorente will also serve one-game bans on Sunday, meaning that there could be a start in the middle of the park for Hector Herrera.

Joao Felix is fit following an ankle problem and should feature alongside Angel Correa in the final third of the field, while Yannick Carrasco will return after missing out against Sevilla through suspension.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Bravo; Emerson, Mandi, Sidnei, Moreno; Carvalho, Rodriguez; Ruibal, Canales, Fekir; Juanmi

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Savic, Gimenez, Hermoso; Trippier, Lemar, Koke, Herrera, Carrasco; Correa, Felix

We say: Real Betis 1-1 Atletico Madrid

This is an incredibly difficult game for Atletico, who will not be at full strength on Sunday. Simeone's side might have been knocked off the top of the table by the time that they take to the field for this match, but we are struggling to back them with any real confidence and have therefore settled on a low-scoring draw.

Top tip

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