Betis vs Villarreal: who will come out on top in the battle for European places?
In the match of the 20th round of Spain’s La Liga, taking place on Saturday, January 17, we will see a clash between Betis and Villarreal. The game will kick off at 21:00 CET, and I propose a betting option for this encounter.
Betis vs Villarreal: match facts and head-to-head
- Betis have lost just one match out of their last seven.
- Betis have scored at least one goal in five consecutive matches.
- From their last seven home matches, Betis have suffered only one defeat.
- At home, Betis have scored at least one goal in seven straight games.
- Villarreal have won their last two matches.
- Away from home, Villarreal have won three of their previous four matches.
- Villarreal boast the third-best attack in La Liga with 37 goals scored.
- Villarreal have conceded just 17 goals, the best defensive record in the Spanish championship.
- Betis have lost only 3% of their matches this season without scoring, compared to 22% for Villarreal.
- In 44% of matches this season, Villarreal have scored in both halves.
- The last head-to-head meeting between these sides ended in a 2–2 draw.
- In the last five head-to-head matches, the total has gone over 2.5 goals.
Betis vs Villarreal: match preview
Betis are currently fighting for European qualification and have every chance of securing a place in continental competition. After 19 rounds, they have collected 29 points. The team sit sixth in the table, edging Celta on tiebreakers. They trail fifth place by five points, a gap that will be difficult to close, but their chances remain solid. In their previous match, Betis defeated Elche in the Copa del Rey, while before that they were held to a 1–1 draw by Oviedo in La Liga.
Villarreal sit higher in the table and have their own strong motivation, as they are battling for a spot in the UEFA Champions League. After 18 matches, the team have amassed 41 points and are in a strong position. The Yellow Submarine are three points clear of fourth place and four points behind second. Moreover, Villarreal have a game in hand, meaning a victory could allow them to reduce the gap to second place. The side have won their last two matches, recording 3–1 victories in both the Copa del Rey and La Liga.
Probable lineups
- 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
Prediction
We are in for an intriguing contest between two sides battling for European qualification. I expect an open and entertaining match with goals, so I suggest a bet on over 2.5 total goals.
