Espanyol vs Real Betis Match Analysis and Prediction

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Espanyol will be hosting Real Betis on Friday, with the hosts looking to make it back-to-back wins in La Liga when they continue their 2021-22 campaign.

Real Betis are currently sitting 3rd in the table, 12 points behind league leaders Real Madrid, while Espanyol will enter the fixture off the back of a 2-2 draw with Cadiz.

Espanyol seemed to be losing the game 2-1 at Cadiz on Tuesday after Ivan Alejo put the hosts 2-1 ahead in the 91st minute, but Raul de Tomas levelled at the 96th minute for the Catalan outfit, who are currently 11th in La Liga with 27 points from 21 matches.

The reigning Segunda Division champions have won seven, drawn six and lost eight of their 21 league matches this season and currently sit 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Periquitos have found it difficult to be consistent this season, and they have not won in their last three matches in all competitions, having lost to Elche and Mallorca in the league and Copa del Rey respectively before picking up a 2-2 draw with Cadiz on Tuesday.

On the other hand, Real Betis enter this contest off the back of a 4-1 victory over Alaves on Tuesday, with Sergio Canales, Borja Iglesias and Juanmi getting on the scoresheet in Seville.

Betis have recorded 11 wins, four draws and six losses from their 21 league matches this season to collect 37 points, leaving them 3rd in the table, four points clear of fifth-plaved Real Sociedad.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side will be targeting success in the Europa League when they will be facing Zenit St Petersburg in the next round of the competition.

The Greens have the third-best away record in La Liga this season, while they are unbeaten against Espanyol in the league since October 2017.

Espanyol vs Real Betis head to head

The two teams have previously met on 48 occasions across all competitions, where Espanyol are leading with 18 victories while Real Betis have won 12, and they have drawn in 18. Espanyol have scored 68 goals and conceded 59, and they drew 2-2 in their last meeting in La Liga.

Real Betis (E)3-1 Espanyol 30/01/19

Real Betis 1-1 Espanyol 29/04/19

Espanyol 2-2 Real Betis 15/12/19

Real Betis 1-0 Espanyol 25/06/20

Real Betis 2-2 Espanyol 19/09/21

Espanyol latest home form

Espanyol lost their last home game 2-1 to Elche on January 10. However, they have been on a good run of form at home, as they had gone unbeaten in seven matches before that. In their last five matches, they have won three, drawn one and lost one in the process.

Espanyol 1-1 Athletic Bilbao 26/10/21

Espanyol 2-0 Granada 06/11/21

Espanyol 1-0 Real Sociedad 28/11/21

Espanyol 4-3 Levante 11/12/21

Espanyol 1-2 Elche 10/01/22

Espanyol latest away form

The Parakeets have recently had a patchy form on the road, failing to be consistent. They recently won through penalties after a 1-1 draw with Ponferradina before losing 2-1 to Mallorca in the Copa del rey. They have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches.

Celta Vigo 3-1 Espanyol 17/12/21

Valencia 1-2 Espanyol 31/12/21

Ponferradina 1-1(P) Espanyol 04/01/22

Mallorca 2-1 Espanyol 15/01/22

Cadiz 2-2 Espanyol 18/01/22

Real Betis latest home form

Despite recently losing 2-0 Celta Vigo at home in the league, Real Betis have recently been on a good run of form at home. They recently defeated Sevilla 2-1 in the Copa del Rey competition. In their last five matches, they have won four and lost one in the process.

Real Betis 3-1 Levante 28/11/21

Real Betis 4-0 Real Sociedad 12/12/21

Real Betis 0-2 Celta Vigo 02/01/22

Real Betis 2-1 Sevilla 16/01/22

Real Betis 4-0 Alaves 18/01/22

Real Betis latest away form

Real Betis have recently been on a relatively good form on the road, having lost just two of their last eight away matches. They recently defeated Real Valladolid 3-0 in the Copa del Rey competition. In their last five away matches, they have won two, drawn one and lost two.

Celtic 3-2 Real Betis 09/12/21

Talavera 2-4(E) Real Betis 16/12/21

Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Real Betis 19/12/21

Real Valladolid 0-3 Real Betis 05/01/22

Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Real Betis 09/01/22

Espanyol news

Espanyol enter the contest without fresh injury concerns, and they will be boosted by the returns of Adria Pedrosa and Keidi Bare from suspension.

Raul de Tomas will lead the line again, while David Lopez could feature in the defence, with Javi Puado and Adri Embarba likely to feature in the final third.

Real Betis news

Marc Bartra, Joaquin and Martin Montoya will remain on the sidelines through injury, while Alex Moreno is available after serving his suspension.

William Carvalho could feature in central midfield, while Willian Jose will be an option in the final third, with Iglesias again leading the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Prediction and Odds

Real Betis will enter the contest with much confidence after recently being unbeaten in four straight matches in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Espanyol will want to recover from their last loss in the league at home, which could lead to a tight contest that may end in a draw or an away win.

Odds: 1 2.50 X 2.05 2 2.35