Real Betis will be aiming to bounce back from successive La Liga defeats when they continue their 2020-21 campaign at home to Eibar on Monday night.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have dropped to 12th position in the table due to their recent problems, while Eibar occupy 16th, having only picked up 10 points from their 10 games this term.
Match preview
© Reuters
Betis have been the definition of inconsistent this season, winning four but losing six of their 10 La Liga matches to collect 12 points, leaving them in 12th position in the table.
The Seville outfit have scored a respectable 12 goals in Spain's top flight this season but have conceded 21, which is actually the worst defensive record in the division heading into Saturday's matches.
Betis have only won once in the league since beating Valencia at the start of October, meanwhile, losing four of their last five in Spain's top flight, including a 4-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao last weekend.
Pellegrini's side also conceded five times to Barcelona before the international break, and they do seem to be shipping goals at an alarming rate, which will be a concern for the supporters.
Los Verdiblancos finished a disappointing 15th in La Liga last season and will certainly be looking to improve on that position this term, particularly as there are a number of big-name players at the club.
© Reuters
Eibar, meanwhile, have won two, drawn four and lost four of their 10 league matches this season to collect 10 points, which has left them in 16th position in the table.
Jose Luis Mendilibar's side have actually only lost one of their last six in the league, though, and recorded an impressive 1-0 victory away to Sevilla towards the end of last month.
The visitors will enter Monday's clash off the back of a goalless draw with Getafe on November 22, and they will be determined to pick up a positive result considering that their next three matches after this one are against Valencia, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid.
Los Armeros, who finished 14th in La Liga last season, are actually unbeaten in their last four top-flight matches with Betis, but the two sides played out 1-1 draws in both of their meetings last term.
Real Betis La Liga form: WLLWLL
Eibar La Liga form: WDWLDD
Team News
© Reuters
Betis will be without the services of Sergio Canales and Victor Camarasa through injury on Monday night, while Aissa Mandi is absent due to a recent positive coronavirus test.
Pellegrini is expected to make alterations from the side that lost heavily to Athletic last time out, with Andres Guardado and Marc Bartra both likely to come into the XI.
Borja Iglesias and Loren Moron are also options for change in the final third, although Antonio Sanabria should again be supported by Cristian Tello and Joaquin in the forward areas.
As for Eibar, Sergio Cubero and Cote remain on the sidelines through injury, while Recio is unlikely to overcome a muscular problem in time for the contest.
The visitors will also be without Kike following the striker's red card against Getafe on November 22, meaning that Yoshinori Muto could operate as the lone forward.
Takashi Inui is pushing for a spot in the starting XI, but Mendilibar is otherwise expected to keep faith with the side that picked up a point in their last match.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Emerson, Bartra, Ruiz, Moreno; Guardado, Rodriguez, Carvalho; Joaquin, Sanabria, Tello
Eibar possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Correa, Oliveira, Bigas, Arbilla; Diop, Edu; Leon, Inui, Gil; Muto
We say: Real Betis 1-1 Eibar
As mentioned, the two teams played out 1-1 draws in both of their meetings last season, and we are struggling to separate them once again. Betis will fancy their chances of triumphing, but Eibar have proved difficult to beat in recent weeks, and we are predicting another stalemate here.
