On Sunday night, Real Betis visits Alaves in La Liga, aiming for consecutive wins in Spain’s top flight. Alaves currently sits in 18th place, one point behind Valencia, while Real Betis stands sixth, tied on points with Celta Vigo, who occupy seventh place.
Match Preview: Alaves vs Real Betis
Alaves has struggled this season, recording five wins, four draws, and 11 losses in 20 league matches. With just 19 points, they find themselves in the relegation zone. Last season, they finished in 15th place and have regularly featured in the top tier of Spanish football.
The Basque team enters this match after a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid. They have lost four of their last five league games, raising concerns about their current form. Conversely, they have been relatively solid at home, accumulating 15 points from 10 matches.
Recent Encounters and Form
- Alaves vs Real Betis – Previous Match: Real Betis won 1-0 in an earlier fixture this season.
- Alaves vs Real Betis – Last Season’s Corresponding Fixture: Match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Historically, Real Betis has faced challenges against Alaves, winning only once in their last six encounters. Meanwhile, they have shown resilience with eight wins, eight draws, and four losses this season, yielding 32 points.
Team News
Alaves arrives with almost a full squad. Their only absentee is Facundo Garces, who is suspended. Carlos Vicente has been notable this season, netting nine times, while Lucas Boye contributes with four goals in 15 appearances.
In contrast, Real Betis faces a significant injury crisis. Key players like Sofyan Amrabat, Rodrigo Riquelme, and Isco are all out of contention, potentially leaving them without nine squad members. However, Antony, Pablo Fornals, and Abde Ezzalzouli will lead their offensive line, with Cedric Bakambu expected to spearhead the attack.
Projected Lineups
Here are the potential starting lineups for both teams:
| Alaves | Real Betis |
|---|---|
| Sivera | Valles |
| Jonny | Ortiz |
| Tenaglia | Natan |
| Pacheco | Bartra |
| Parada | Gomez |
| Ibanez | Deossa |
| Blanco | Roca |
| Vicente | Antony |
| Suarez | Fornals |
| Alena | Ezzalzouli |
| Boye | Bakambu |
Predictions
With both teams vying for critical points, El-Balad predicts a close match. However, we forecast a 2-1 victory for Real Betis, as they seek to capitalize on Alaves’ recent struggles.
