Betis – Real Sociedad : Preview & Prediction
Champions League “final” at the Benito Villamarín. Real Betis (5th) and Real Sociedad (4th) meet at the Estadio Verdiblanco after the 30th round of LaLiga Santander (LL), in which the team from San Sebastian extended from three to six points the lead over their hosts in the fight for qualification to the top continental competition. Betis, who suffered their first defeat in 11 league matches against Osasuna (OSA 3-2 BET) at El Sadar, are having a difficult month of April and have lost three of their last four league games (G1, P3).
This is the second time that Betis have suffered three defeats in a four-game series in the current championship, following defeats in January and February. Then, Betis reacted by collecting 14 points from six games (G4, E2), and Manuel Pellegrini will be confident that his team will return to winning ways against the only club currently in the top four to have been defeated by Los Verdiblancos in LL 2022-23 (G1, E1, P4). In their last home game (G 3-1 vs Espanyol), Betis recorded a margin of victory of at least two goals in LL for the first time since visiting Real Sociedad in Round 12 (RS 0-2 BET).
Winning 2-1 against Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad are looking to take a virtually definitive step towards a long-awaited Champions League qualification. Despite having gone through several setbacks in the second half of the season, the Txuri-urdin team has collected 54 points in 30 rounds of an LL campaign for the first time in 20 years. Imanol Alguacil’s side cannot become complacent, with games against Betis and the top three in the table, against whom they have yet to record a win so far this season (E2, P2).
La Real left the last two stadiums they visited empty-handed, with 2-0 defeats against Villarreal and Athletic Club, both contenders for the European places. Just over a month after being knocked out of the Europa League in the round of 16, the Blue and Whites face a crucial trip for their aspirations to compete in the elite of European soccer.
Players to watch: Borja Iglesias has been on target in nine league wins for Betis this season, including one against Real. Alexander Sørloth is not far behind; the Blue and Whites’ striker scored the 1-1 draw against Rayo last term, and his 12 goalscoring performances for Real in all competitions this season have contributed to as many victories for his side.
Serie A highlight: All seven meetings between Pellegrini and Alguacil have ended in either a draw (two) or a difference of two or more goals (five).
Betis – Real Sociedad : Betting Tips
BTS/YES Odds: 2.25
