Real Betis to begin season with a win

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Real Betis were one of La Liga’s most promising teams in the early stages of last season. However, a midseason downturn in form led them to a 10th place finish.

Things could have been worse for Real Betis as Real Valladolid found out. The Madrid-based club finished 16th with just four points separating them from the relegation zone.

Real Betis will begin the Rubi era this weekend after the manager took over in the offseason. Rubi arrived from Espanyol where he did wonders with the club. Espanyol finished in sixth last season and earned a Europa League place.

The green and whites allowed several big-name players to leave over the summer as they cashed in on them. Goalkeeper Pau Lopez was sold to Roma for €23.5 million. Giovani Lo Celso, one of La Liga’s most exciting players last term, was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for €18m.

They did replace Lo Celso with Nabil Fekir and also added goalscorer Borja Inglesias. Real Betis scored just 44 goals last term and the front office will hope Inglesias can improve that figure.

Real Valladolid go into the season under the guidance of Sergio Gonzalez. Like Real Betis, Real Valladolid’s biggest issue in 2018-19 was goalscoring. They tallied the fewest number of goals in La Liga with just 32.

Gonzalez’s saving grace was the team’s defence. Real Valladolid conceded 51 goals which was the lowest number of goals for the teams finishing in 14th place or lower.

Real Betis are undefeated against Real Valladolid in 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions. Five of those 10 matches ended in Real Betis victories. Their last meeting in 2018-19 ended in a Real Betis 2-0 win away to Real Valladolid.

Rubi may have centre-back Marc Bartra back from injury. The defender is nursing an issue picked up in preseason. Andreas Guardado has already been ruled out by the manager. The Mexican international played at the Gold Cup during the summer and needs further rest.

Real Valladolid will be without Luismi. The veteran midfielder will be a big miss in the centre of the park as he recovers from an injury. Striker Oscar Plano could make the Real Valladolid team in time for the fixture as he recovers from an injury as well.

Real Betis got the upper-hand against Real Valladolid in their most recent meeting. Expect them to once again pick up a victory this weekend. Real Betis should display their new defensive solidity under Rubi, so expect a win to nil against last season’s poorest scoring team.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

Es1

Real Betis Real Valladolid 18/08/2019 21:00

442729

1

2 - 0

2.21

22°

1.82

1.82 3.45 4.80 -1 -1 -1

FT

1 - 2(0 - 0)

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