Real Betis vs Espanyol predictions, H2H and match preview for this Thursday’s game in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as the hosts play their first game since sacking Rubi.
by Mark Sochon (@marksoc1)
Real Betis vs Espanyol Preview
This should have been the Rubi derby but Real Betis sacked their boss following defeat at San Mames at the weekend denying him the chance to take on the side he left last summer. In truth neither Betis nor Espanyol benefited much from his decision to swap Catalonia for Seville and the same could be said of Borja Iglesias who went in the same direction but has struggled for goals at the Benito Villamarin, having helped fire Espanyol into Europe last term.
Heading into the restart, Betis looked like a side with not much to get excited about but also one that was in no danger of going down. Three games on and with only one more point on the board, the alarm bells are not exactly ringing but defeat here would certainly leave them looking over their shoulder at the relegation scrap. Alexis Trujillo will take charge of the side here and his previous spell as interim boss produced two draws in May 2017 when he replaced Victor Sanchez.
As for Espanyol, they have already hired and fired two coaches since Rubi left with Abelardo the latest man at the helm. He does look like the right man for the job but there are fears that the task of saving Espanyol this season may be too big even for him. A damaging 3-1 home defeat against Levante last time out leaves them propping up the table again and with Barcelona and Real Madrid to face over the next fortnight, a positive result is pivotal here.
With a new coach at the helm and recent results so poor, it’s hard to know how Betis will line up here with a host of players struggling for form. They will at least be boosted by the news that two of Espanyol’s first choice defenders are banned with Bernardo Espinosa and Leandro Cabrera sidelined for this one.
We have previews for all games in LaLiga as well as predictions for every Segunda Division match between now and the end of this season.
Real Betis vs Espanyol Predictions
Score Prediction: 2-2 Draw
There is no shortage of talent in this Betis side but it just hasn’t clicked all season really with Rubi struggling to get his ideas across. With an interim rather than new permanent boss in charge, it’s not as though players are really playing for places for next season either and that offers a glimmer of hope to an Espanyol side that will be hit hard by those defensive suspensions. While both sides have their problems, there is attacking quality in both teams and we could still see a decent game develop and a score draw looks a likely outcome.
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Real Betis vs Espanyol H2H
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 3 Betis Wins, 3 Draws.
- The sides drew 2-2 at the RCDE Stadium earlier this term.
- All of the last 5 meetings have seen both teams score.
- Espanyol conceded 3 goals in defeats on this ground on 2 separate occasions last season in league and cup.
Predicted Line Ups
Betis Team:
Joel – Moreno, Bartra, Mandi, Emerson – Canales, Carvalho, Guardado – Tello, Loren, Fekir (4-3-3)
Espanyol Team:
Lopez – Vila, Calero, Naldo, Lopez – Embarba, Roca, Sanchez, Darder – Calleri, De Tomas (4-4-2)
Read more: LaLiga Matchday 30 Review
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