Betis-Athletic Bilbao is a match on the 15th day of La Liga and is played on Thursday at 7:15pm: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
Two teams who for a couple of seasons now seem to have raised the infamous bar and can now legitimately aspire to Champions League qualification. To finish in the top four is the objective of Betis and Athletic Bilbao, who on the day that marks the restart of La Liga will compete for precious points in the fourth place.
They are both tied on 24 points, along with Cholo Simeone’s Atletico Madrid and behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. The Basques are ahead – but only on goal difference – and come from a long winning streak, including the league, various friendlies and the Copa del Rey. Last week they made it through the cup round by beating Sestao 1-0, while in tests during the World Cup break they beat Real Valladolid, Guadalajara, Burgos and Udinese without conceding a single goal. Unai Simon’s goal had also remained unbeaten in the last two matches played in November against Real Valladolid and Alzira, demonstrating that one of the main strengths of Ernesto Valverde’s team is their defensive solidity: especially at home, where Athletic have conceded just four goals in eight games.
Betis with breathlessness
Manuel Pellegrini’s men, meanwhile, came into the break with wind in their sails, suffering a crushing 3-0 defeat away to Valencia after a 1-1 draw in the derby against Sevilla. The double European fixture had an impact, with Betis winning their Europa League group ahead of Roma to qualify directly for the round of 16.
Valverde
The green-and-whites have not yet made their debut in the Copa del Rey, but they have been involved in no fewer than six friendlies, also facing Inter and Atalanta. The results were surprisingly negative, with heavy defeats to River Plate, Colo Colo and Gasperini’s La Dea, who were beaten 3-0 at the Benito Villamarin stadium.
The Prediction
This is a direct clash for fourth place, and as such it seems to us to be a classic triple match, difficult to predict. Betis has certainly not excelled in friendlies, but it is also true that they have only lost on one occasion in front of their own public. And against Athletic they should at least manage to avoid defeat. A draw would not be surprising in a match in which both are likely to score.
Betis-Athletic Bilbao matchday squad
- BETIS (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Sabaly, Luiz Felipe, Victor Ruiz, Moreno; Rodriguez, Carvalho; Henrique, Canales, Rodri; Borja Iglesias.
- ATHLETIC BILBAO (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón; De Marcos, Yeray, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Vesga, Sancet; Iñaki Williams, Muniain, Nico Williams; Berenguer.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
