Match Overview

This Matchday 8 clash sees Espanyol host Betis on October 5th at their home ground, the Cornellà-El Prat stadium in Barcelona. Below, we present our match preview, including our prediction, betting odds, and key statistics for this Espanyol vs Betis encounter.

Espanyol Team Analysis

Team Form and Recent Performance

Under the guidance of Manolo González, Espanyol played out a goalless draw against Girona away from home in their last outing. This result extended their winless streak in the league to three consecutive matches, comprising two draws and one defeat. It also marked only the second instance this campaign where the team failed to find the back of the net. The Catalan side currently occupies seventh position in the league standings with 12 points. It’s worth highlighting their strong home form; Espanyol has accumulated 10 points on their own pitch this season, a tally surpassed only by Villarreal (12).

Key Statistics for Espanyol

• Espanyol has proven formidable at home, remaining undefeated in 15 of their last 17 fixtures played on their own ground (8 wins, 7 draws).
• In 13 of their past 15 home league encounters, the team has consistently scored either one or two goals.
• However, Espanyol’s defense has been less robust, conceding goals in 8 of their last 11 home matches.

Espanyol’s Probable Lineup (4-5-1)*

Marco Dmitrović – Klemens Riedel, Omar El-Hilali, Carlos Romero, Fernando Calero – Pere Milla, Pol Lozano, Thiris Dolan, Javi Puado, Urko González – Roberto Fernández Jaén.

Team News

Defender Leandro Cabrera will miss the match due to an injury.

Real Betis Team Analysis

Team Form and Recent Performance

Manuel Pellegrini’s squad secured a 2-0 home victory over Osasuna in their most recent fixture. This triumph represents Betis’s second successive win in and their third overall this season. Significantly, all of Betis’s league victories this campaign have occurred at home. Furthermore, the team has demonstrated potent attacking form, scoring at least two goals in each of their last three championship matches. With 12 points, Betis has ascended to sixth place in the league standings.

Key Statistics for Real Betis

• Betis has shown resilience on the road, avoiding defeat in 9 of their last 10 away matches in (4 wins, 5 draws).
• A notable trend is that both teams have found the net in the club’s last 11 away league encounters.
• In their last six away fixtures, the Sevillian side has consistently scored either one or two goals.

Real Betis’s Probable Lineup (4-5-1)*

Pau López – Valentín Gómez, Nathan, Ricardo Rodríguez, Héctor Bellerín – Sofyan Amrabat, Pablo Fornals, Abde Ezzalzouli, Marc Roca, Antoni Mateus – Cucho Hernández.

Team News

Defenders Marc Bartra, Diego Llorente, along with midfielders Isco and Nélson Deossa, will miss the match due to injuries.

Espanyol – Real Betis Match Prediction

Expert Betting Forecast

When playing at home, Espanyol adopts an adventurous approach, consistently prioritizing offensive play. Their scoring record at home is impressive: over their last 15 home fixtures, Espanyol only failed to score against Barcelona, and in five of these games, they netted at least twice. Despite their attacking prowess, the team frequently makes defensive errors within their own box; the Catalans have kept just three clean sheets in their last 11 home league outings.

Real Betis, similarly, is not known for a passive defensive style, opting for an active attacking approach even when playing away. Their impressive scoring run on the road in now spans 12 matches, with the Sevillians scoring at least two goals in seven of these encounters. Concurrently, Betis’s defense is not particularly solid; they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 11 away league fixtures.

Considering the offensive tendencies and defensive vulnerabilities of both teams, I anticipate an engaging match with goals from both sides. Therefore, my prediction is: “Both Teams to Score – Yes” with odds of 1.70.

Author: Dmitry Shchurko

* The starting lineup for each team is based on their previous match in this tournament.