Valencia vs Real Betis – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Odds, Prediction | La Liga 2022-23

Spain's La Liga sets protocols for the return of fans
Spain's La Liga sets protocols for the return of fans

Valencia and Real Betis will face off this Thursday in the last fixture of the La Liga season before the World Cup break.

Venue: Estadio de Mestalla (Valencia)

Key Statistics

Valencia have won just one of their last seven games in the league (D4, L2).

They have kept just two clean sheets in the league this season.

Real Betis have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 away matches.

They have won seven of their last 13 matches this season (D3, L3).

Betis have found themselves trailing at half-time only once in their last 25 LL matches (HT: W8, D16).

Head to head

Valencia have a good record against Real Betis and have won 23 out of the last 43 matches played between the two teams, while Real Betis have 12 wins.

However, the hosts are winless in their last four games against Real Betis in La Liga, with their previous win against them in the competition coming in February 2020.

Latest performances in all competitions

Valencia: D-L-L-D-D

Real Betis: D-W-W-W-L

Valencia

It’s been a stop-start campaign for Gennaro Gattuso and his Valencia side who will look to get their first win since mid-October when they host Real Betis.

The hosts come into this tie without a win in five games (D3, L2). However, Gattuso will feel hard done by, with luck apparently not on his side after own goals, conceding in stoppage time, and penalties going against them.

That has left Valencia slowly sliding down the La Liga table to a point where they now find themselves in the bottom half, and closer to the relegation zone than the European spots.

Although the Italian isn’t one to blame bad luck for his side’s shortfalls, he will hope that things can work better for his side and that they can end a two-game losing run at home. Perhaps the Thursday night lights could help Valencia avoid losing three consecutive home league matches for the first time since March 2016, as they’re currently six games without defeat when playing on a Thursday in all competitions (W4, D2).

Possible Valencia starting line-up

Giorgi Mamardashvili; Thierry Correia, Antonio Latorre, Eray Cömart, Jose Gaya; Yunus Musah, Hugo Guillamón, André Almeida; Justin Kluivert, Marcos de Sousa, Samuel Dias Lino.

Injured: Gabriel Paulista, Ilaix Moriba, Jaume Domenech, Mouctar Diakhaby

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Real Betis

Despite losing valuable points in a 1-1 draw with Real Betis in the Andalusian derby last time out, Real Betis remain in a good position in La Liga after 13 games.

The visitors, unlike Valencia, have been punching above their weight this campaign. Not only are they right in the mix of the La Liga top-four, but they also did well in their UEFA Europa League Group C, going unbeaten and finishing top of the table (W5, D1).

They will therefore be very confident here, although their discipline may need some work after the weekend’s action since they were reduced to nine men in their 1-1 draw against Sevilla.

However, Manuel Pellegrini’s men can give themselves some credit for their discipline in defence on the road, having kept four consecutive away clean sheets, including a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in their last La Liga away trip.

That will only help boost the confidence in Pellegrini’s men, who are unbeaten in their last five matches against Valencia (W4, D1).

Possible Real Betis starting line-up

Claudio Bravo; Youssouf Sabaly, German Pezzella, Édgar González, Alex Moreno; Guido Rodriguez, William Carvalho; Aitor Ruibal García, Sergio Canales, Luiz Henrique; Willian Jose.

Injured: Juanmi Jimenez, Joaquin, Luiz Felipe, Víctor Camarasa

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Nabil Fekir, Borja Iglesias

Odds

Prediction

Valencia 1-3 Real Betis