Elche vs Betis – News and Probable Lineups

Real Betis will seek to achieve back-to-back victories in Spain’s top division when they face Elche at Estadio Martinez Valero on Sunday afternoon.

The away side secured a 2-1 win against Malaga in their most recent league fixture, whereas Elche will come into this match following a 1-0 defeat at home to Valencia.

Match overview

Elche holds a record of two wins, four draws, and five losses from their 11 league games this season, leaving them with 10 points and in 17th place in the La Liga standings.

The Green-Striped Ones were recently defeated 1-0 by Valencia in their last encounter, marking their first loss in five outings across all competitions.

Under Martin Anselmi, they have managed to win two of their last three matches, including a 3-1 victory over Pinatar in the Copa del Rey at the end of October.

Elche has faced challenges in their recent clashes with Real Betis, experiencing losses in four of the last five matches between the teams, although the corresponding fixture last season ended in a 1-1 draw.

Since April 2022, the Green-Striped Ones have not triumphed over Real Betis, and their last home win against the Seville side was in November 2009.

In their overall head-to-head record, Real Betis leads with 24 victories compared to Elche’s 16, while 17 out of their 57 meetings have ended in a draw.

During the week, Manuel Pellegrini’s team participated in Champions League action, suffering a 2-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the group stage of the tournament.

The Seville side recorded a 2-1 victory over Malaga in their last match, bringing their tally to seven wins, two draws, and two defeats from their 11 league matches this season, placing them fourth in the standings with 23 points.

Currently, Real Betis sits just four points behind third-placed Real Madrid and remains in a strong position for a Champions League spot early in the La Liga campaign.

El Glorioso has claimed two wins, two draws, and one defeat from their five away league fixtures this season, scoring six goals while conceding seven.

Team News

Elche will be missing Marc Aguado and Thomas Lemar for this weekend’s fixture, though the team otherwise appears to be in decent shape.

Yago Santiago and Gonzalo Villar were concerns for this match but are now expected to be available, alongside Pedro Bigas, who should also return to the squad.

Lemar’s place in the starting lineup is likely to be filled by Facundo Buonanotte, while Fer Nino, who has scored six times in La Liga this season, is anticipated to have a position in the center.

On the other hand, Real Betis will be without Cucho Hernandez, who is still recovering from injury and is not expected to return until the end of November.

Facundo Bernal remains suspended, but both Junior Firpo and Alvaro Fidalgo are likely to be back in the squad after recent absences.

Troy Parrott has not found the back of the net for Real Betis since early September but is expected to continue as a central figure for Pellegrini’s side.

Elche probable starting XI:

Dituro; Sangare, Chust, Redondo, Revivo; Villar, Morcillo; Cepeda, Goodnight, Valera; Nino

Real Betis probable starting XI:

Valles; Bellerin, Bartra, Nathan, Garcia; Roca, Fornals; Antony, Isco, Ezzalzouli; Parrott

Elche has managed to display solid performance of late, making this match a challenging one for Real Betis, yet we anticipate that the Seville side will secure important three points on Sunday.