Real Betis – Alaves
The recent record between Real Betis and Deportivo Alavés could hardly be more sobering for the Andalusians: not a single win in the last five encounters, while the Basques triumphed 3-1 away in January. Tomorrow evening at La Cartuja, Pellegrini’s team has the chance to end this unpleasant streak, albeit under difficult conditions. Marc Roca, Giovani Lo Celso, Isco, and Abde Ezzalzouli are all out, which significantly limits the options in midfield.
After a disappointing 1-1 draw against newly promoted Elche, Betis are in 10th place with just one point, while Alavés are in 6th place with three points after their last-minute win against Levante. Despite this snapshot, the bookmakers see Betis as the clear favorite, reflecting the high expectations for a response from the hosts. Cucho Hernández has already spoken of the need for a response and emphasized the club’s ambitious goals of returning to international competition.
Betis – Alaves Info
- Venue: Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, Seville
- Date and time: 22.08.2025, 21:30
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 2)
The betting recommendations for this match are based on a thorough analysis of the current form and tactical characteristics. The bookmakers have Real Betis as clear favorites with odds of around 1.8, but the data reveals value in other markets.
The “Both teams to score” tip is backed by impressive statistics: Betis have scored and conceded in their last five games, while Alavés have scored at least one goal in 80% of their recent games. Players such as Tenaglia, who scored the decisive goal against Levante, and Toni Martínez pose a threat in attack. Despite the absences, Betis’ offense remains potent with Aitor Ruibal.
The “Under 1.5 goals – 1st half” bet is justified by Alavés’ impressive defense at the start of games, with all five of their most recent matches remaining below this mark before the break. Betis also tends to be cautious early in games. The risky bet on “Over 3.5 goals” may seem tempting given the high odds, but Betis’ offensive consistency clashes with Alavés’ tendency to play low-scoring football. The Andalusians’ defensive vulnerability, having conceded goals in each of their last games, argues in favor of this, but Coudet has organized his team well, as their opening win against Levante showed.
Betis form & record check
Real Betis are in worrying form at the start of the season. The 1-1 draw against newly promoted Elche highlights the current problems under Manuel Pellegrini. Despite taking an early lead through Aitor Ruibal after some impressive work from Rodrigo Riquelme, the team lost their way and allowed a harmless opponent to snatch a point.
The game revealed a noticeable passivity after the opening goal. Instead of keeping up the tempo and looking for a second goal, the Andalusians sat back and allowed Elche to take the initiative. The punishment came in the 80th minute through Germán Valera. Pellegrini admitted after the game that his team failed to take several clear chances.
Their 10th place in the table after the first matchday reflects their mixed form. The statistics show a weakness in the second half of recent games, where the team has frequently conceded goals. Cucho Hernández talks about high ambitions and the goal of playing internationally again, but the reality is different at the moment.
Pellegrini is likely to stick with his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 formation against Alavés. The Chilean is missing several key players: Lo Celso is out with muscle problems, Marc Roca is struggling with a foot injury and Isco is not expected back until November after breaking his fibula.
Altimira could therefore set the tone in midfield alongside Fornals, while Cucho Hernández will be the target man up front. The Colombian recently publicly called for Antony’s return, which shows how much the club is still looking for creative solutions. No major surprises are expected in defense, with Pau López likely to start between the posts.
Alaves Form & Record Check
Deportivo Alavés has made a promising start to the new season under Eduardo Coudet. The 2-1 opening win against Levante was hard-fought but deserved. Nahuel Tenaglia secured the three points with his late goal in stoppage time and proved to be a real discovery in central defense. His versatility makes him a valuable option for Coudet, who can use him both as a right-back and in central defense.
The performance against Levante revealed typical characteristics of Coudet’s football: defensively compact, but with the necessary punch in decisive moments. Toni Martínez put the Babazorros ahead in the 36th minute, assisted by Carles Aleñá, who immediately proved his qualities as a new signing.
The team showed remarkable stability in the first half. In their last five games, Alavés did not concede a single goal before the break, which speaks for a solid defensive structure. The club’s management is showing ambition in the transfer market: their efforts to sign Lucas Boyé from Granada for up to four million euros underline their desire to strengthen their offense, although the injured Argentine would not be available for at least three months.
Coudet is likely to stick with the same line-up that got off to a successful start against Levante. The 4-1-4-1 formation worked well, and there is little reason for the Argentine coach to make any major changes. Sivera will be in goal, while Tenaglia should be given another chance after his decisive goal in stoppage time.
In midfield, Aleñá is a sure bet after his strong debut and assist for Toni Martínez. Blanco will act as playmaker, supported by Vicente and Guridi on the wings. The question mark remains over Ibáñez, who performed well but could make way for other options. Toni Martínez will lead the line after his header.
H2H Betis – Alaves Head-to-head & Statistics
The consistency in the head-to-head matches is remarkable: all five encounters since October 2023 have been tied after 45 minutes, which is almost like a law of nature. The games then usually develop in the second half, when Alavés has scored the winning goal.
The most recent encounter in January 2025 came as a bit of a shock for Betis. After a goalless first half, Alavés really turned up a gear and won 3-1. Prior to that, the 0-0 draw in Vitoria in August 2024 had looked like a typical hard-fought victory for both sides.
There is a clear pattern in terms of goals scored: four of the last five encounters have seen fewer than 2.5 goals, which suggests a cautious approach from both teams. Betis clearly struggles against Alavés’ defensive stability, while the Basques are more efficient in front of goal.
