Real Betis vs Almeria Prediction: Hosts have Europe in their sights

Real Betis welcome already-relegated Almeria to Benito Villamarin on Sunday (Premier Sports, 20:00) in La Liga, looking to keep up their good form as they look to finish the season finishing in one of the European spots.

Manuel Pellegrini's side are seventh, two points behind Real Sociedad who are occupying the Europa Conference League qualifier spot in sixth. Betis have still got to face them at home before the season is out too. But before that battle, they have to get themselves in the best position and they need to beat the worst team in the division this weekend. Below I have laid out my Real Betis vs Almeria predictions.

Real Betis vs Almeria Odds

Real Betis are 1/3, or a 75% chance of taking the three points here. Almeria are 15/2 to pull off an upset here, giving them an implied probability of just 11.8%. The draw can be backed at 9/2 (18.2%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 8/11 but the last meeting between the two sides ended 0-0. Over 2.5 goals is priced at 1/2.

Betis striker Willian Jose has found the back of the net on 10 occasions in La Liga this term and he is valued at 100/30 to open the scoring on Sunday, but 9/10 to score anytime.

Team News

In what is great news for hosts but bad news for Almeria, veteran midfielder Isco is back available after serving a suspension against Osasuna last time out. The Spaniard has provided seven goals and four assists in the league this season, so he is one of Real Betis' most dangerous players.

Pellegrini does have quite a few injuries to deal with, however, as Cedric Bakambu, Hector Bellerin and Marc Bartra are sidelined. Assane Diao, Ezequiel Avila and German Pezzella are all doubts to feature too.

Almeria will be missing  Aleksandar Radovanovic due to injury, while Cesar Montes, Gonzalo Melero and Largie Ramazani are all suspended. Jonathan Viera and Lucas Robertone are both back from their respective bans, though.

Real Betis to win to nil @ 11/8

Almeria have endured a bitterly disappointing campaign but they are still playing for pride despite their fate having already been sealed. They defeated Rayo Vallecano on their last outing but they are going to face a much tougher test against Real Betis on Sunday.

The hosts are in good form after winning three of their last four as they are gunning for a late surge into the European places. Real Sociedad looks their best for a team to replace as they are nine points behind Athletic Club in fifth with four games to go.

Pellegrini's men have to pick up as many points as possible in the final run in and they will be expected to beat the league's basement side with ease on home soil. Isco returning gives them a huge boost, as does the fact that they kept a clean sheet against Almeria in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

They have already managed 12 clean sheets in La Liga this campaign and I fancy them to register another one on Sunday night. And with the likes of Isco, Ayoze Perez, Willian Jose in attack, I think the three points should come with it.

Ayoze Perez anytime goalscorer @ 13/10

Seeing as there not much value to be had in backing Betis' top scorer Willian Jose to score anytime in this one, I've decided to back Ayoze Perez to find the back of the net.

The former Newcastle United and Leicester City man has had a respectable campaign so far with seven goals in La Liga. Three of them have come in as many appearances in recent weeks, including a brace against Valencia.

Coming up against the worst defence in the league that has conceded 67 goals so far, I fancy Ayoze Perez to get some more joy in front of goal this weekend.

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