Real Betis – Valladolid
Before the floodlights come on at the Benito Villamarín on Thursday, there is a quiet opportunity in the air in Seville: with a win, Real Betis could clinch a Champions League spot, with just one point separating Manuel Pellegrini’s team from the coveted fourth place. The Andalusians are coming off a 3-1 win in Girona and look as solid as they have been all season. On the other side, Real Valladolid has its back against the wall: with five games to go before the end of the season, the team is bottom of the table and has not won a single game since its surprise 1-0 win against Betis in the first leg. 76 goals conceded is already a club record, but striker Juanmi Latasa is still promising excitement and fighting spirit. Interestingly, none of the last five head-to-head matches ended at halftime, and there were always fewer than four goals scored – a detail that both coaches are likely to keep in mind.
Real Betis – Valladolid Info
- Venue: Estadio Benito Villamarín, Seville
- Date and time: 24.04.2025, 21:30
- Competition: La Liga (matchday 33)
Real Betis form & record check
The 3-1 win in Girona was symbolic: Cardoso, Antony, and Isco all scored before half-time – the fourth time in five games that Betis had found the net in the first 45 minutes. Overall, the Green and Whites have scored at least one goal in each of their last five league games, but have also conceded in four of those matches. Pellegrini’s team is in sixth place with 51 points, just one point behind Villarreal, with a seven-point cushion above the relegation zone. The pace of attack is good, but the defensive inconsistency raises questions when the big teams come calling.
Pellegrini is likely to stick with his 4-2-3-1 formation: Adrián in goal, Bartra and Natan in the center, Ruibal and Perraud on the wings. Cardoso will take over the six, probably flanked by Fornals or William Carvalho. In front of them, Isco will pull the strings, flanked by Ezzalzouli and Antony, while Hernández lurks in the center of the attack. Llorente and Roca are still out, but there are no other new absences – continuity that suits the current flow.
Valladolid Form & Record Check
Valladolid is reeling: since the beginning of January, the bottom club has picked up just one point from 13 games in the second half of the season – a La Liga record. The last five games have all been lost, the team has never been ahead at half-time, and has always conceded at least two goals. Highlights such as the 2-3 defeat to Osasuna or the two goals in Madrid were wasted due to a leaky defense. With a 13-point gap to safety, relegation could already be sealed in Seville; the players emphasize their commitment, but the nervousness remains evident.
Valladolid are also unlikely to experiment and will once again field a 4-1-4-1 formation. Ferreira will be in goal, with Latasa leading the attack. Grillitsch will organize the midfield, with Jurić playing as the lone defensive midfielder. With no absences other than the long-term injured Hein, the starting XI is likely to be identical to the one that played against Osasuna.
H2H Real Betis – Valladolid Head-to-head & statistics
The last five encounters between these two sides have yielded two wins for Betis, two draws and the aforementioned 1-0 victory for Valladolid – with no more than three goals scored in any of those games. Four times the second half ended goalless, and neither team led at halftime. Historically, the matchup has been rather tough, but given the current contrasts, at least the Betis fans should provide more momentum this time around.
