Real Betis vs Real Madrid Prediction: Isco to spark home side

It’s shaping up to be a cracking weekend in La Liga, with the three main title challengers all facing tough games. For Real Madrid, that means a trip to the Estadio Benito Villamarín (Saturday 17:30) to take on a resurgent Real Betis side.

Read on for my Real Betis vs Real Madrid predictions, alongside the latest match odds and team news.

Under the management of former Real Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini, Betis have enjoyed one of the best periods in their history, winning the Copa del Rey in 2022 and consistently qualifying for Europe.

However, a real sense of stagnation was starting to creep in, and an unconvincing first half of the season left many Betis fans questioning the direction the club was heading. A 3-1 defeat at home to struggling Alavés in January felt like something of a tipping point as the whistles rang out around the Benito Villamarín.

The sense was that 71-year-old Pellegrini’s reign was petering out slightly, and in truth many had expected the Chilean to walk away last summer, when the club again opted to sell key players such as Ayoze Pérez.

Football is full of surprises though, and the mood in the green and white half of Seville has brightened considerably since then. They’ve taken 10 points from five matches since the Alavés defeat, and have also seen off Gent to reach the Conference League round-of-16.

Some radical changes in attack have unquestionably been the catalyst for a big upturn in the fortunes of Betis. While they could always rely on playmaker Isco to provide some inspiration from the number 10 role, their other attacking options were not convincing, and to the club’s credit they looked to rectify that late in the January transfer window.

Antony arrived on loan from Manchester United and has exceeded all expectations with three goals and two assists from his six Betis appearances so far. They also forked out €13m to sign MLS star Cucho Hernández. While he’s yet to score, the striker has looked lively on his two outings to date and should prove a clear upgrade on Barcelona loanee Vitor Roque who now looks set to return to Brazil.

A totally rejigged attack has also received a further boost with the emergence of exciting 19-year-old Jesús Rodríguez on the left flank, meaning Betis suddenly look a much more threatening team than was the case at the turn of the year.

That’s not good news for a Real Madrid side that would have preferred a slightly more favourable fixture just three days before they host Atlético Madrid in the Champions League.

Carlo Ancelotti is no stranger to the challenge of trying to negotiate packed schedules in the second half of the season, although even for him and his star-studded Real Madrid squad, playing their 18th match of a calendar year on the first day of March is pushing things to the very limit.

The Italian opted for rotation in the first leg of his side’s Copa del Rey semi-final away to Real Sociedad in midweek. Rodrygo dropped to the bench, while neither Fede Valverde nor Kylian Mbappé travelled to the Basque Country, but it didn’t matter as 18-year-old Endrick popped up with a cool finish for the game’s only goal.

The Brazilian teenager is yet to start a game in La Liga, despite making 15 appearances off the bench, and that’s unlikely to change here with Mbappé set to return following a trip to the dentists in the week.

Mbappé has scored 14 goals in his last 12 matches, so attempting to limit his involvement will be the main priority for Betis heading into this match. The Frenchman was the key ingredient in Real Madrid’s dominant Champions League victory against Manchester City, but his improved form hasn’t been enough to prevent a number of recent slip-ups by his team in La Liga.

Real Madrid believe they’ve been on the wrong end of a series of incorrect refereeing decisions which have contributed to them winning just one of their last four league matches, during a period that has seen Barcelona retake top spot in the Spanish top flight.

Football Odds

Team News

Both coaches have a number of selection issues heading into this game. Pellegrini will have to cope without William Carvalho, Giovani Lo Celso, Marc Roca, Ángel Ortiz, Abde Ez and Héctor Bellerín due to injuries.

In better news, the red card Antony received in the 2-1 victory at Getafe last weekend has been rescinded, meaning the 25-year-old is available for this game and he’ll surely start given how much he seems to be enjoying life in Spain so far.

As for Real Madrid, they are missing Jude Bellingham again, with the Englishman completing the two-game ban that somewhat harshly followed his sweary episode at Osasuna a fortnight ago.

Dani Ceballos picked up an injury in the Real Sociedad game on Wednesday, which is likely to see the ex-Arsenal man ruled out for at least a month. Madrid’s midfield issues are compounded further by a fitness concern over Fede Valverde that will also keep him out of this one.

Real Betis vs Real Madrid Odds

Real Madrid start as the 8/11 favourites to win this match. You can back the Draw at 3/1, a winning bet in four of the last six meetings between these clubs, while Real Betis are priced at 100/30 to claim all the points.

If you like the look of the home team, you can back Betis to score over 1.5 goals at 13/8. The Andalusians are also available at 11/8 to win either half and 11/2 to keep a clean sheet.

On the surface, this looks like a game that should serve up goals and you can back Over 2.5 at 8/15, while Over 3.5 goals is priced at 11/8. However, punters should be aware that three of the last six meetings have ended 0-0 and a repeat scoreline is available at 16/1 here.

There are a number of players in the visiting attack who will be intent on ensuring that’s not the case on Saturday evening, and you can back Mbappé to score first at 7/2. The 26-year-old is also on offer at 19/20 to score anytime, while you can back Vinícius Júnior to get on the scoresheet at 11/8.

Recent signing Cucho Hernández is priced at 15/8 to score his first Betis goal, while you can back Antony to build on his current hot streak and score anytime at 100/30.

Real Betis or Draw @ 21/20

Even when they weren’t playing particularly well, Real Betis were tough to beat at home, and they’ve already taken points off Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club at the Benito Villamarín this season.

They’ve looked much better since their late business in the transfer window, while young winger Jesús Rodríguez will fancy his chances of having the beating of the unconvincing Lucas Vázquez who looks set to start at right-back for the visitors.

With Ancelotti likely to have at least half an eye on keeping some players fresh for the derby with Atleti, I can see the improving hosts being really competitive here, and I’m backing Real Betis or Draw at 21/20 in the Double Chance market. 

Bet- Builder: Isco 1+ shots on target & Antony 1+ shots on target @ 13/8

With Bellingham, Ceballos and Valverde all absent for the away team, Betis have a good chance of winning the midfield battle here and getting decent service to Isco who is the player who makes everything tick for them in the final third.

He won’t be lacking motivation up against his former club, and the 32-year-old takes good form into this one following a brace at Getafe last time out.

With Antony having hit the target at least once in five of his six Betis appearances so far, I expect visiting keeper Thibaut Courtois to have plenty of work to do in this game, and I’m using the Bet Builder to back Isco 1+ shots on target and Antony 1+ shots on target at 13/8.

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