Atletico Madrid vs Betis prediction, H2H and probable lineups - May 18, 2025
One of the standout clashes of La Liga matchday 37 is set for Sunday at the Metropolitano, where Atletico Madrid host Betis. I'm backing a goals-focused bet for this showdown at a solid value.
Match preview
Atletico have shown impressive defensive form in recent rounds, going three matches without conceding: the Madrid side thrashed Rayo Vallecano at home (3-0), then Real Sociedad (4-0), and also drew away to Alaves (0-0). However, in their last outing, Diego Simeone’s men slipped up, falling 0-2 away to Osasuna in Pamplona, ending both their clean sheet and unbeaten runs.
That defeat cost Atletico any realistic chance of fighting for second place — their gap to Real Madrid is now eight points. What’s more, Atletico now risk losing third place as well: Athletic Club are breathing down their necks, just three points behind. In this situation, every remaining game of the season carries critical weight for Los Rojiblancos.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side, meanwhile, look set to miss out on the Champions League — the gap to fifth-placed Villarreal stands at five points with just two rounds remaining. Betis wasted their chance to close the gap after two consecutive draws: first at home against Osasuna (1-1), then in a high-scoring away match with Rayo Vallecano (2-2). These setbacks have proven decisive in the race for the top four.
Nevertheless, Betis remain consistent: they are unbeaten in five straight La Liga matches, picking up three wins and two draws. In fact, over their last 13 league games, Betis have lost just once, racking up nine wins and three draws — a testament to their strong form, even if they’ve faltered at crucial moments.
Probable lineups
- Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak – Javi Galan, Robin Le Normand, Jose Maria Gimenez – Marcos Llorente, Koke, Rodrigo De Paul, Pablo Barrios – Alexander Sorloth, Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone
- Betis: Adrian Castillo – Nathan, Youssouf Sabaly, Marc Bartra, Ricardo Rodriguez – Isco, Joao Cardoso, Pablo Fornals – Antony Mateus, Abde Ezzalzouli, Cucho Hernandez
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first half of the season, Betis beat Atletico 1-0
- The "Both teams to score" bet has landed in two of the last five meetings
- The "Over 2.5 goals" bet has come through in two of the last five matchups
Prediction
Betis continue to impress with their attacking consistency — they've scored in each of their last 17 league matches and will be looking to extend that streak to the season’s end. However, things have been far less stable at the back: Betis have now conceded in nine consecutive La Liga rounds. Our pick is "Both teams to score" at odds of 1.67.
