Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid on and what time does it start? Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid will take place on Sunday 20th August, 2023 – 20:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid on in the UK? Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid in the UK? Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
REAL BETIS
Under the management of Manuel Pellegrini, Real Betis are one of a few sides that will think they can steal into the top four this season at the expense of Real Sociedad. The Andalusians have had another summer of buying low due to their financial issues, which are issues that are all over Spain’s top-flight, but they began the campaign with an impressive but last gasp 2-1 win away to Villarreal on the opening day.
Ayoze Perez opened the scoring after 20 minutes but the former Leicester and Newcastle forward also missed several glaring opportunities. Jorge Cuenca equalised mid-way through the second-half but with former Real Madrid man Isco pulling the strings, Betis nicked it in second-half stoppage-time via Willian Jose.
ATLETICO MADRID
After the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Atletico Madrid were extremely impressive and, arguably, the best team in La Liga until they faded towards the end of the campaign. It had been expected to be Diego Simeone’s final season in charge of Los Rojiblancos but the Argentine has stayed on acknowledging Barca’s unsustainable way of winning last year and Real Madrid in a bit of flux has opened up the chance of a third Liga title with Atleti.
The visitors began with a very impressive 3-1 defeat of newly-promoted Granada last weekend on the opening day of the season. They didn’t open the scoring until deep into first-half stoppage-time via Alvaro Morata but then Samu equalised for Granada mid-way through the second-half before substitute Memphis Depay unleashed a 30-yard screamer into the top corner and then Antoine Griezmann confirmed all three points late on.
THE TEAM NEWS
REAL BETIS
Pellegrini and Betis have a small squad which may well be an issue with another UEFA Europa League group stage campaign on the horizon. He is still without important midfield dup William Carvalho and Nabil Fekir due to injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Silva; Sabaly, Pezzella, Felipe, Abner; Rodriguez, Roca; Luiz Henrique, Isco, Perez; Iglesias
UNAVAILABLE: Carvalho (Injured), Fekir (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ATLETICO MADRID
The cause for a bit more excitement and entertainment at Atletico is because of key defensive injuries to Jose Maria Gimenez and Reinildo, as well as Axel Witsel’s suspension, forcing them to become a little more proactive without that reliance on defensive solidity.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Oblak; Azpilicueta, Savic, Hermoso; Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Lemar, Ferreira-Carrasco; Morata, Griezmann
UNAVAILABLE: Witsel (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Gimenez (Injured), Vitolo (Injured), Reinildo (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
These are two of Spain’s stronger sides and both will be expecting to be among the very top teams in the division in about nine or ten months’ time. Real Betis are often entertaining to watch but do also struggle for a bit of cutting edge at times. So, given that they are facing an Atletico side that, albeit hopeful of a tweak in identity into a team that will go and try and win these sort of games, would most likely be pleased with a point, it wouldn’t be a surprise if this match followed the trend of lots of big games in Spain and was relatively difficult to watch for the neutral.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
