La Liga | Gameweek 13

Nov 10, 2024 at 1pm UK

Estadio Benito Villamarin

Betis vs Celta Vigo

Match preview

After finishing seventh in La Liga in 2023-24 - four points clear of eighth-placed Villarreal - Real Betis secured their place in this season's revamped Conference League, with the Spanish giants arguably one of the favourites to win the competition alongside Premier League giants Chelsea.

However, Los Verdiblancos had to wait until the third round of fixtures for their first win in the continental competition on Thursday night, when an injury-time strike from substitute and club legend Juanmi earned them maximum points at the expense of Slovenian side Celje at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Since returning from their international break in October, Real Betis have gone on a six-match unbeaten run in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Conference, with their last defeat coming at the home of city rivals Sevilla on 6 October.

Manuel Pellegrini's side, who are fighting for a top-four finish and Champions League football next term, currently sit seventh in La Liga, just two points behind fourth-placed Villarreal ahead of the final international break of the calendar year.

With 13 points from their first six games at the Estadio Benito Villamarin this season, Real Betis have been a formidable opponent in front of their own fans, with only Barcelona (3) and Mallorca (3) conceding fewer goals on home soil than Los Verdiblancos' four to date.

After successive defeats at the hands of Spanish champions Real Madrid and Leganes to end an inauspicious October, Celta Vigo kicked off their November plans in La Liga with a one-goal victory over struggling Getafe at the Estadio Abanca-Balaidos in Vigo on Monday night.

For the first time since a trip to relegation-threatened Las Palmas on 5 October, Os Celestes managed to keep a clean sheet in a competitive match, with a seventh-minute strike from Greek striker Anastasios Douvikas proving the difference.

Having finished 13th in each of the last two seasons, Celta Vigo are on a mission to break into the top half of the La Liga table for the first time since their eighth-placed finish in 2021, and they travel to Sevilla on Sunday in 10th place, three points behind sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

Os Celestes will need to drastically improve their defensive solidity away from home if they are to mount an unlikely challenge for a European spot this term, with Claudio Giraldez's men conceding 13 goals in five away games so far - only relegation-threatened Real Valladolid (18) have conceded more.

Despite turning 37 during the final stages of pre-season in August, Iago Aspas is still going strong for Celta Vigo in his 15th season in the first team, with the 20-time Spain international scoring seven goals in 11 La Liga appearances.

Recent Performance

Real Betis La Liga form:

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Real Betis form (all competitions):

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Celta Vigo La Liga form:

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Celta Vigo form (all competitions):

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Team News

Real Betis will be without the services of top scorer Giovani Lo Celso, who made a sensational start to life in Seville before suffering a hamstring injury in October.

Los Verdiblancos' creative options are further limited by the absence of Isco, with the former Real Madrid star last featuring in May due to a serious ankle problem.

The hosts could be short of options at right-back if Hector Bellerin is unable to recover from a knock in time to feature in Sunday's La Liga clash, having missed the Conference win earlier in the week.

Luca de la Torre, who has yet to kick a competitive ball for Celta Vigo this season, has been a big miss in the visitors' engine room so far in 2024-25.

Os Celestes will also be without the services of Brazilian defender Jailson, who is hoping to return from a hamstring injury after the international break.

Possible starting lineups

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Silva; Sabaly, Bartra, Llorente, Perraud; Fornals, Losada, Cardoso, Ezzalzouli; Avila, Roque

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Guaita; Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Mingueza, Moriba, Sotelo, Ristic; Aspas, Bamba, Douvikas