Real Betis vs Espanyol Prediction

Real Betis host Espanyol in La Liga this weekend in a big game for both sides. Neither team has been able to get off the ground thus far this season, with Betis lying in 11th and Espanyol three places below.

Espanyol, promoted last season after one year in La Liga 2, will be the happier of the two sides with their campaign so far despite their lower position, and if they can take something away from the Estadio Benito Villamarin, they will have exceeded expectations after their first 8 games.

With the match set to take the winner into the top half, here is everything you should know prior to the game, and who you should back.

Key Statistics

• Both sides have an identical record in their last five games, winning two, losing two and drawing one.
• Betis are missing five important starting players for this game, including Isco and William Carvalho.
• Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia is averaging the most saves per game in the league, with 4.1 per 90 mins.
• Betis and Espanyol have not drawn a game against each other in their last three meetings.

Real Betis Preview

Real Betis Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva (GK); Romain Perraud, Natan, Diego Llorente, Hector Bellerin; Marc Roca, Johnny; Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Giovani Lo Celso, Pablo Fornals; Assane Diao.

While their start of the season has been nothing special so far, Real Betis won’t be unhappy with their form thus far.

With a squad punctuated with big names, such as Isco, Bellerin, Fornals and Lo Celso amongst others, there is certainly enough talent there to shock some of the bigger sides, as exhibited by their 7th place finish last year and their subsequent qualification for the Conference League.

Drawing to Girona, Alaves and Las Palmas, and beating Getafe and Leganes so far leaves them on nine points with just two defeats. However, Betis will want to look a little more convincing than they have so far.

Espanyol Preview

Espanyol Predicted Lineups (4-4-2): Joan Garcia (GK); Brian Olivan, Leandro Cabrera, Marash Kumbulla, Omar El Hilali; Jofre Carreras, Pol Lozano, Alex Kral, Alvaro Tejero; Alejo Veliz, Javi Puado.

After two goalless defeats and poor performances to open their season, there was certainly some apprehension in and around Espanyol and their fans.

However, things turned around as they picked up their first point with a credible 0-0 draw away to Atletico Madrid and then beat Vallecano and Alaves in consecutive games to pull them up the standings and into lower mid-table.

Defeats against Real Madrid and Villareal in their last two fixtures have done nothing to dent the sudden optimism, with the two clubs in leagues of their own compared to the La Liga 2 play-off promotees.

However, things get no easier for them, as in their next six games they face Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla, Barcelona, Valencia and Girona.

Points are needed against Betis.

Real Betis vs Espanyol Head to Head

Last five meetings:

• 15/05/2023: Betis 3-1 Espanyol.
• 21/01/2023: Espanyol 1-0 Betis.
• 21/01/2022: Espanyol 1-4 Betis.
• 19/09/2021: Betis 2-2 Espanyol.
• 25/06/2020: Betis 1-0 Espanyol.

Historical Head to Head - Real Betis: 9. Drawn: 7. Espanyol: 7.

Real Betis vs Espanyol Betting Tip

While Betis have the more talented and expensively assembled squad, Espanyol have shown great character throughout the fixtures so far, and the game could be tighter to call than most would think.

However, I think that simply due to the squad depth at Real Betis, they should be able to muscle their way to three points here, and move them into that more familiar top half of the table.

Espanyol won’t make it easy, and will more than likely make things uncomfortable for their opponents, but in lacking that overall La Liga quality, as many of their players are still with them after promotion last season, they will make mistakes in key moments.

Real Betis vs Espanyol Final Prediction

Real Betis 2-1 Espanyol

This is the sort of game where the final score will have just one goal to separate the two sides. If Betis had a fully fit squad, I may have predicted a 3-0 or even 4-0 scoreline, but that absence of quality in key areas could make things uncomfortable for them at times.

However, with the likes of Lo Celso, Fornals and Bellerin still available, they should have enough quality to come through this one unscathed.