Real Betis' fight to secure Champions League football for the 2025-26 campaign will continue on Sunday evening when they head to an Espanyol outfit that have pulled themselves out of relegation danger in recent weeks.
The visitors are currently sixth in the La Liga table, one point behind fifth-placed Villarreal, while Espanyol are 13th, seven points clear of the relegation zone with only five games left to play.
Match preview
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Espanyol will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Villarreal, which proved to be their first loss in Spain's top flight since the middle of March, winning three of their last five during a strong run of form.
The Catalan outfit currently sit in 13th spot in the table, only three points behind 10th-placed Real Sociedad, while they are seven points clear of the relegation zone heading into the final straight, which is a solid gap at the stage of the campaign.
The White and Blues were promoted back to La Liga through the 2023-24 Segunda Division playoffs, so consolidating back at this level is their priority, and any spot over 17th would be considered to be a successful season.
Espanyol have lost their last two La Liga matches against Real Betis, including a 1-0 reverse earlier this season, but they recorded a 1-0 victory when the two teams last locked horns in Catalonia back in January 2023.
Manolo Gonzalez's side will also be the fresher of the two outfits entering this match, as Real Betis were in European action on Thursday night, taking to the field for the first leg of their Conference League semi-final.
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Real Betis have an advantage to take into the second leg of their Conference League semi-final, having recorded a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in Seville on Thursday night, with Abde Ezzalzouli and Antony on the scoresheet.
Manuel Pellegrini's side were 5-1 winners over Real Valladolid in La Liga last time out, meanwhile, with the result leaving them in sixth on 54 points from their 33 league matches this season, just one point behind fifth-placed Villarreal.
La Liga has five Champions League spots for next term, so the Seville outfit are very much in the race for a spot at the top table, and they certainly have momentum heading into the final straight.
The Green and Whites have picked up 22 points from their 16 matches on their travels this season, while they have a recent away success over Espanyol to their name, beating the Catalan side 4-1 in January 2022.
Isco has been a standout player for Real Betis this season, scoring 11 goals and registering seven assists in 26 appearances, while Antony has six goals and four assists in 19 matches since his arrival on loan from Manchester United in January.
Team News
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Espanyol will once again be without the services of Brian Olivan due to a calf issue, while Jose Gragera is again expected to miss out, but the home side are otherwise in excellent shape for their clash with Real Betis.
Head coach Gonzalez could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Villarreal, with Roberto Fernandez again set to feature through the middle for the hosts.
Javi Puado is another certain starter in a wide area, while there is also expected to be a spot in the XI for Antoniu Roca, with Pol Lozano and Jofre Carreras again set to be among the substitutes.
As for Real Betis, Ezequiel Avila, Marc Roca and Diego Llorente are out of the match through injury, but the Seville outfit did not suffer any fresh fitness concerns in their European clash with Fiorentina.
There will be changes from the side that started on Thursday night, with Jesus Rodriguez, Adrian, Ricardo Rodriguez all set to return, while there should be a spot in the final third of the field for Cucho Hernandez.
Antony and Isco are again expected to be in the XI, though, as Pellegrini will be reluctant to rest the in-form duo due to their importance.
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
J Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Gonzalez, Kral; Roca, Exposito, Puado; R Fernandez
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Adrian; Sabaly, Bartra, Natan, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Fornals; Antony, Isco, J Rodriguez; Hernandez
We say: Espanyol 1-2 Real Betis
Real Betis need to win to remain in the Champions League hunt, and we are backing the Seville outfit to triumph here; Espanyol have been in strong form of late, but we can see Pellegrini's side emerging victorious at the end of a tight match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
