Villarreal will continue its pursuit of La Liga leaders Barcelona this Saturday as they face Real Betis in Seville. Both teams find themselves in contrasting trajectories as the season progresses.
Current Standings
Villarreal sits in third place in La Liga, trailing Barcelona by eight points but holding a game in hand. Real Betis currently occupies the sixth spot in the standings.
Recent Performances
Real Betis secured a 2-1 victory over Elche in the Copa del Rey, advancing to the quarter-finals. However, their league form has been lackluster, earning only one point from their first two matches of 2026. This included a loss to Real Madrid and a draw against last-placed Real Oviedo.
- Record: 7 wins, 8 draws, 4 losses
- Total points: 29
In comparison, Villarreal has been robust this season, accumulating 41 points from 18 matches with a strong record of 13 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses. They are currently in a race for the title, closely following Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Head-to-Head Matchup
The historical head-to-head record favors Real Betis slightly, with 19 wins compared to Villarreal’s 18 in their last 49 meetings. Notably, Villarreal achieved recent success away from home against Betis, with their last three victories occurring on the road.
Last Matches Summary
The previous encounter this season ended in a 2-2 draw, while Villarreal defeated Betis 2-1 in the last match held in Seville.
Team News
Real Betis will miss key attacker Isco due to an ankle surgery undertaken in December. Additional fitness checks are required for players Fortunaly Luciano, Angel Ortiz, Cucho Hernandez, Junior Firpo, and Hector Bellerin, who are all doubtful for this match.
Conversely, Villarreal faces its own issues with injuries. Pau Cabanes, Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, and Thiago Fernandez will not participate. Pape Gueye and Ilias Akhomach are set to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations final, which could impact their availability for future matches.
Possible Lineups
Real Betis:
- Valles; Ruibal, Bartra, Gomez, Rodriguez; Fornals, Roca; Antony, Lo Celso, Riquelme; Bakambu
Villarreal:
- Luiz Junior; Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Pedraza; Buchanan, Parejo, Comesana, Moleiro; Perez, Mikautadze
Match Prediction
This match promises to be competitive. However, Villarreal’s recent form and quality may give them the edge. We predict a close match, expecting Villarreal to secure a 2-1 victory over Real Betis.
