Real Betis will be looking to build on their impressive 2021-22 La Liga campaign when they open their new season with a home encounter with Elche on Monday.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side finished fifth in Spain’s top flight last season, five points behind fourth-placed Sevilla, while Elche were 13th, just four points above the relegation zone.
Real Betis picked up 65 points which saw them finish fifth in the table, and they will again be looking to push for a Champions League spot during the 2022-23 campaign.
They enjoyed their best finish last season since 2004-05, but it has been a relatively quiet summer for the club in terms of transfers, with only Willian Jose, Luiz Felipe and Luiz Henrique arriving to boost the squad for the new season.
The Green and Whites have had a busy pre-season in terms of matches, playing six times in total, and they head into this contest off the back of a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina last weekend.
Meanwhile, Elche finished 13th in La Liga last season after picking up 42 points from their 38 matches, and are preparing for their third straight campaign at this level of football, which is their best run of La Liga action since 1978, so the club are currently in a good place.
Los Franjiverdes have managed to make five signings during the summer market, bringing in Carlos Clerc, Lautaro Blanco, Roger Marti and Ezequiel Ponce, while Pol Lirola has arrived on loan from Marseille.
Francisco’s side have back-to-back home matches against Almeria and Real Sociedad after this contest before opening September with a trip to Villarreal.
Elche found it difficult on their travels last season, only winning four of their 19 La Liga matches, and Francisco will certainly be looking to oversee an improvement in that area this season.
Real Betis vs Elche head to head
The two teams have previously met on 15 occasions across all competitions, where Betis have claimed four victories while Elche have won seven, and they have drawn in four. Elche have scored 21 goals and conceded 18. In their last five meetings, they have both won twice while they have drawn once.
Elche 2-1 Real Betis 22/07/14
Real Betis 3-1 Elche 01/11/20
Elche 1-1 Real Betis 04/04/21
Elche 0-3 Real Betis 21/11/21
Real Betis 0-1 Elche 19/04/22
Real Betis latest home form
Real Betis have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. They managed to defeat Fiorentina 3-1 in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded six.
Real Betis 1-2 Barcelona 07/05/22
Real Betis 2-0 Granada 15/05/22
Real Betis 1-1 Marseille 27/07/22
Real Betis 2-2 Real Zaragoza 03/08/22
Real Betis 3-1 Fiorentina 06/08/22
Real Betis latest away form
Real Betis have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having lost each of their two most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Brentford in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded three.
Valencia 0-3 Real Betis 10/05/22
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Betis 20/05/22
Grodig 0-0 Real Betis 16/07/22
PSV 2-1 Real Betis 23/07/22
Brentford 1-0 Real Betis 30/07/22
Elche latest home form
Elche have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, as they have won just two of their six most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Ibiza in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded eight.
Elche 0-2 Atletico Madrid 11/05/22
Elche 3-1 Getafe 22/05/22
Elche 1-3 Villarreal II 20/07/22
Elche 2-1 Leganes 23/07/22
Elche 0-1 Ibiza 02/08/22
Elche latest away form
Elche have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They defeated La Nucia 3-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded six.
Cadiz 3-0 Elche 07/05/22
Celta Vigo 1-0 Elche 15/05/22
Getafe 0-1 Elche 27/07/22
FC Cartagena 2-0 Elche 30/07/22
La Nucia 0-3 Elche 07/08/22
Real Betis news
Real Betis will be without Martin Montoya on Monday due to an Achilles issue that he suffered during pre-season, but the hosts are otherwise in strong shape.
Luiz Felipe is expected to make his debut at the heart of the defence, while William Jose is set to lead the line.
Elche news
Elche will be missing Jony Alamo and Gonzalo Verdu for this contest, but Lirola, Clerc, Marti and Ponce are available to make their debuts for the visitors on Monday.
Pere Milla and Lucas Boye will potentially start as the front two, while Gerard Gumbau, Tete Morente, Fidel and Omar Mascarell could start in midfield.
Prediction and Odds
Real Betis were in impressive form in La Liga last season, and we are finding it difficult to look past the Green and Whites in this contest.
Elche are capable of mounting a challenge for the hosts, but we are expecting Manuel Pellegrini’s side to open their campaign with a win.
Odds: 1 2.10 X 2.05 2 2.28
Probable outcomes
Real Betis 1-0 Elche
Real Betis 2-0 Elche
Real Betis 2-1 Elche
Real Betis 0-0 Elche
Real Betis 1-1 Elche
