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Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Desperately seeking a crucial boost this weekend, Atletico Madrid will travel to Real Betis on Sunday evening.
Real Betis
Starting with the hosts, while Real Betis might have opened up the new campaign with their sights set on mounting a genuine top-four charge, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have drastically struggled to find any kind of fluidity. Eventually forced to settle for a 1-1 stalemate at home against Danish giants Copenhagen earlier in the week, the one-time Manchester City boss has some real issues on his hands. Winning just a pair of their previous seven appearances across all competitions – a run that stems back to September 18th – Sunday’s hosts have collected consecutive victories on just a single occasion over the past five months. Currently sat outside the European spots, Pellegrini’s men will also be concerned by a nightmare record against Atletico. In fact, Betis have collected just a single point from any of their last six La Liga battles.
Team News
Shown a late red card against Osasuna last weekend, Real Betis will be without the services of Brazilian defender Natan on Sunday evening. Likewise, yet to make a single appearance across any competition so far this season, former Real Madrid superstar Isco remains on the sidelines and will play no part here.
In what is a huge blow, Betis have also confirmed that summer recruit and ex-Tottenham playmaker Giovani Lo Celsco is not available this weekend. Notching a pair of La Liga goals since arriving from Barcelona on a season-long loan switch, Vitor Roque should be handed a full recall.
Atletico Madrid
As for the visitors, while Atletico Madrid might have marked their return from October’s international break with a 3-1 win against Leganes, Diego Simeone’s men came crashing back down to earth in an infamous fashion earlier in midweek. Suffering a remarkable second-half collapse on home soil as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against French outfit Lille, Sunday’s guests have continued to show some extended issues on either side of October’s fortnight interval. Coming under a huge amount of scrutiny earlier in the month as they slumped to a woeful 4-0 drumming at the hands of Benfica, Atletico have the feel of a squad seeking a much-needed boost. Already sat seven points adrift in the title chase, Simeone’s side have recorded just two wins from any of their previous seven appearances across all competitions.
Team News
All still dealing with respective injury issues, Atletico Madrid will once again be without the likes of Marcos Llorente and former Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta on Sunday evening. Suffering what was a “traumatic brain injury” after a collision against Real Madrid earlier in the month, Robin Le Normand remains a major doubt here.
Bagging what turned out to be a consolation Champions League strike against Lille in midweek, summer recruit and ex-Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez will be looking to extend on his bright start to life in Madrid. Making a real impact since arriving from Chelsea last month, Conor Gallagher will start at the heart of Simeone’s midfield.
Key Factors to Consider
- When Real Betis and Atletico Madrid last met back on March 3rd, Simeone’s men collected a 2-1 victory on home soil.
- Atletico have collected 16 points from just their previous six La Liga showdowns against Sunday’s hosts.
- Real Betis have failed to muster a single victory from any of their previous 10 straight meetings against Atletico Madrid.
- Atletico Madrid have recorded just a pair of wins from any of their previous seven matchups across all competitions.
- Likewise, Sunday’s hosts have also recorded just a pair of wins from any of their last seven outings across all fronts.
Conclusion
Suffering an infamous Champions League collapse earlier in the week as they eventually fell to that 3-1 loss, Atletico Madrid are desperately seeking some kind of boost here. Showing a string of inconsistencies on either side of October’s international break, both of Sunday’s opponents have shown their own defensive struggles. With Simeone’s side seeing four of their previous five appearances across all competitions finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Dachbet