Real Betis vs Sevilla Prediction And Preview – 19/12/15

La Liga Preview – Real Betis vs Sevilla Prediction

Betis should have Alfred N’Diaye available for selection after the midfielder stepped up his level of training this week as defender Bruno and midfielder Dani Ceballos return from their respective suspensions. This game may come too soon for Didier Digard, but Pepe Mel could have an extra attacking option with Vincenzo Rennella nearing a return to fitness.

Sevilla will be without Vicente Iborra through suspension after the midfielder was given his marching orders in the Copa del Rey through the week, while goalkeeper Beto and defender Nicolas Pareja remain the club’s long-term absentees. Unai Emery will give Marco Andreolli a chance to prove his fitness and the squad has an otherwise clean bill of health ahead of the Seville derby.

Possible Line-ups

Real Betis: 4-4-2 formation: Adán; Vargas, Figueras, Westermann, Piccini; Cejudo, Petros, Torres, Joaquin; Castro, Van Wolfswinkel

Real Madrid: 4-2-3-1 formation: Rico; Escudero, Kolodziejczak, Rami, Mariano; Krychowiak, N’Zonzi; Krohn-Dehli, Banega, Vitolo; Llorente

Statistics

• There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Real Betis’s last 5 games in La Liga
• There have been under 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Sevilla’s last 7 away games in La Liga
• Sevilla have failed to win their last 7 away matches in La Liga.
• Real Betis have failed to win their last 5 home matches in La Liga.
• There have been 9 red cards shown in the last 11 meetings between these sides in all competitions
• 71% of Sevilla’s La Liga goals have been scored in the second half.

Prediction

Though the lineups were different, Sevilla easily defeated Sporting Gijon in the league last weekend, before Real Betis played out a swashbuckling 3-3 draw with the same side in the Spanish Cup during the week. On that evidence you’d be tempted to back Unai Emery’s men here, but Sevilla have really struggled on the road lately. It’s been the opposite problem for Betis who just can’t seem to get three points at home and Benito Villamarín will be rocking if they can put an end to that against their bitter rivals. Local derbies are often unpredictable though, and with this fixture having a history of players being sent off it could be worthwhile sitting on the fence in what is likely to be fiercely contested encounter.

Barring their midweek goal-fest in the Copa del Rey, Real Betis have been involved in a few low scoring games of late and that’s a remark which also applies to Sevilla when playing away from home, so chances may be at a premium when the sides lock horns on Saturday.

Tips

Under 2.5 Goals at 5/4 with 888Sport

Match to end as a draw at 14/5 with BetVictor

Betis/Draw Half-Time/Full-Time at 16/1 with BetVictor

What are your predictions?

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