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

Manuel Pellegrini's side are currently seventh in the La Liga table, picking up 21 points from their 13 league games this term, while Las Palmas sit up in eighth on 18 points.

Match preview

Only Getafe (seven) have drawn more La Liga matches than Real Betis this season, with the Seville outfit sharing the points in six of their 13 fixtures, including a 1-1 draw with Sevilla before the international break.

Pellegrini's side took the lead in the 72nd minute of the Seville derby at Estadio Ramon, with Ayoze Perez making the breakthrough, but Ivan Rakitic levelled the scores seven minutes later, as the two rivals were made to settle for a share of the spoils.

The result ended a five-game winning run in all competitions for Real Betis, with the Green and Whites thumping Hernan Cortes in the Copa del Rey during the impressive streak, in addition to securing successive victories in the Europa League and La Liga.

Real Betis are top of their Europa League section on nine points, with the team in a strong position to reach the next stage of the competition, while they sit in seventh spot in the La Liga table on 21 points, one point behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad heading into the next set of fixtures.

Pellegrini's team are unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions, with their last loss proving to be a 1-0 reverse to Rangers in the Europa League on September 21.

Las Palmas, meanwhile, will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this contest, recording three wins in the process, with Garcia Pimienta's side impressing on their return to this level of football.

Los Amarillos have won five, drawn three and lost five of their 13 league games this season to collect 18 points, which has left them up in eighth position, only three points behind their opponents in this match.

The team's position in the table is even more incredible considering that they have only scored 11 times in their 13 matches, which is the joint-second worst attacking record in the division, with their form instead built on a solid defence which has conceded just 12 - the joint-second best record in the league.

Las Palmas are unbeaten in Spain's top flight since October 22, and they picked up a welcome point away to Osasuna before the international break, taking the lead in the 70th minute through Alberto Moleiro before Ante Budimir levelled the scores three minutes later.

La Union Deportiva have also won two of their last three La Liga games against Real Betis, but they suffered a 1-0 defeat when they last travelled to the Green and Whites in April 2018.

Real Betis La Liga form:

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Real Betis form (all competitions):

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Las Palmas La Liga form:

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Las Palmas form (all competitions):

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Team News

Real Betis will be missing Claudio Bravo, Rui Silva, Youssouf Sabaly and Marc Bartra for this weekend's contest through injury, but Isco is expected to be available following an illness.

Isco has been in strong form for Pellegrini's side this season, contributing three goals and three assists in 17 appearances in all competitions.

The team is expected to be similar to the one that took to the field for the first whistle against Sevilla last time out, with the highly-rated Assane Diao operating off the right, while Marc Roca should keep his spot in midfield.

Nabil Fekir is recently back from a long-term injury, and it seems likely that the Frenchman's recovery will continue off the bench in this match.

Las Palmas, meanwhile, will be missing Alvaro Lemos, Fabio Gonzalez and Pejino due to fitness problems.

Moleiro scored off the bench against Osasuna before the international break, and his performance is likely to be enough to see the Spaniard introduced into the XI here.

There are not expected to be any other changes to the side, though, with Munir El Haddadi set to continue in a wide position, and Marvin Park operating on the opposite side.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Vieites; Bellerin, Pezzella, Riad, Miranda; Rodriguez, Roca; Diao, Isco, Perez; Willian Jose

Las Palmas possible starting lineup:

Valles; Suarez, Coco, Marmol, S Cardona; Park, Munoz, Perrone, K Rodriguez, El Haddadi; Moleiro

We say: Real Betis 1-0 Las Palmas

Matches involving Las Palmas are often very tight, and we are again expecting that to be the case this weekend. The visitors are certainly good enough to pick up a positive result, but Real Betis are in excellent form, and we are backing them to secure a narrow victory on Sunday.

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