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

Real Betis will be looking to continue their impressive run of form when they welcome Osasuna to Estadio Benito Villamarin in La Liga on Monday night.

Manuel Pellegrini 's side have won five of their last six matches in all competitions and currently sit in eighth position in Spain's top flight, while struggling Osasuna occupy 17th spot in the table.

Match preview

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Betis have had their problems this season, with Pellegrini's side actually losing nine times in La Liga, which is the joint-second worst record in Spain's top flight in terms of defeats behind Alaves (10).

There have been signs of real progress in recent weeks, though, with the Seville outfit winning five of their last six matches in all competitions, including two victories from their last three league matches.

Los Verdiblancos are unbeaten in La Liga since the end of December, picking up eight points from their last four matches to move into eighth position in the table, just a point behind seventh-placed Granada.

Pellegrini's team have also overcome Mutilvera, Sporting Gijon and Real Sociedad in this season's Copa del Rey to progress to the quarter-finals, where they will take on Athletic Bilbao next week.

Betis have finished 10th and 15th in their last two campaigns at this level but claimed sixth in 2017-18, and the Green and Whites will certainly be eyeing a top-half finish due to their impressive form.

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Osasuna, meanwhile, were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Almeria last week, losing to the second-tier side on penalties following a goalless draw at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

Jagoba Arrasate 's side have struggled for consistency during the 2020-21 campaign, picking up just 19 points from their 20 matches to sit in 17th position in the table, just a point above the relegation zone.

Osasuna will enter Monday's match off the back of a positive result, though, having beaten Granada 3-1 in Pamplona on January 4, with Ante Budimir scoring a brace for the home side.

Los Rojillos, who finished 10th in La Liga last season on their return to this level, have also only actually lost one of their last seven in the league, holding Sociedad and Real Madrid to draws during that run of matches.

Real Betis La Liga form: WLDWWD

Real Betis form (all competitions): WWWWDW

Osasuna La Liga form: DDDLDW

Osasuna form (all competitions): DLWDWL

Team News

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Betis will be without the services of Diego Lainez on Monday, with the attacker testing positive for coronavirus, meaning that he has entered a period of self-isolation.

Victor Camarasa, Dani Martin, Claudio Bravo are all still injured and will definitely be absent, while Guido Rodriguez, Marc Bartra and Sidnei remain doubts for the home side.

Pellegrini will make changes from the side that started against Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, with Victor Ruiz, William Carvalho, Nabil Fekir and Loren Moron all in line to return, while Lainez's absence could see Joaquin start in a wide position for the Green and Whites.

As for Osasuna, Nacho Vidal is back after a suspension, but Chimy Avila, Darko Brasanac, Ruben Martinez, Aridane Hernandez, Facundo Roncaglia, Budimir, Lucas Torro and Jony are all unavailable.

Budimir's absence should see Jonathan Calleri feature through the middle, while Juan Cruz and Vidal are in line for starts at the back, with Arrasate being forced to shuffle his pack.

Roberto Torres and Enric Gallego started against Almeria in the Copa del Rey, but the pair could be back on the bench for this match, with Kike Barja likely to feature in an attacking position.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Joel; Emerson, Mandi, Ruiz, Miranda; Carvalho, Canales; Joaquin, Fekir, Tello; Moron

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Vidal, U Garcia, D Garcia, Cruz; Perez, Oier, Moncayola; Barja, Calleri, R Garcia

We say: Real Betis 2-1 Osasuna

Both sides have a number of injury problems heading into this match, but Osasuna's issues are deeper. Under normal circumstances, we might have predicted a draw, but the visitors are missing a number of key players, while Betis are in excellent form, and we fancy a home victory in this contest.

Top betting tip

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