Valencia have been having a tough season and will hope that there are better times to come on their return from the international break. La Liga’s bottom side host Real Betis at the Mestalla Stadium on Saturday, November 23rd, knowing that three points could get them off the bottom.
How the bookies view it: Valencia underdogs at home
Valencia are 2/1 underdogs for this home fixture against Real Betis who are currently in the fight for a top-six place in La Liga. Given that Valencia are rooted to the foot of the table with just one win under their belt all season, it’s perhaps a surprise to see that Real Betis aren’t shorter than their current 8/5 quote.
Recent head-to-head: Betis dominates Los Che
Real Betis won both league meetings against Valencia last season, taking a 2-1 win at the Mestalla, leaving them unbeaten in three against them. Valencia have lost three of their last four home La Liga fixtures against Real Betis, so this doesn't look like being a favourable fixture for them. Home and away in their last eight league fixtures against Betis, Valencia have won just once.
Players to watch: Lo Celso to lift Betis past Valencia?
Giovanni Lo Celso is the top scorer for Real Betis this season with five goals to his name. He has been instrumental in their push for top-six contention this season, so expect him to feature strongly. The midfielder is an interesting 4/1 punt in the anytime goalscorer market. It’ll also be worth keeping an eye on Vitor Roque who has scored twice in his last four league appearances, so could be running into a bit of form in front of goal.
A lack of forward power has really hampered any potential progress that Valencia could make this season. With just eight goals in eleven matches so far, they are the joint-lowest scorers in the division, and only forward Hugo Duro has managed to score more than one league goal for them this term.
Predicted Lineups
Valencia’s cause on the weekend won’t be helped by their injury problems with Maximiliano Caufriez, Mouctar Diakhaby, Rafa Mir and Ruben Iranzo all out of the picture along with Thierry Rendall. Real Betis also have some telling absences as well, including William Carvalho, Isco and Hector Bellerin. Forward Pablo Fornals is going to be assessed late.
Valencia: Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Mosquera, Tarrega, Gasiorowski, Gaya; Lopez, Guerra, Barrenechea, Rioja; Duro
Real Betis: Silva; Sabaly, Llorente, Natan, Perraud; Altimira, Lo Celso; Ruibal, Losada, Ezzalzouli; Roque
Anything else catches the eye?
Because of terrible floods in the region, Valencia haven’t played since October 27 and while they are bottom of the table, they do have a couple of games in hand over those above them. But their form still needs to drastically improve after picking up just seven points from eleven games this season.
At the Mestalla, they are W1 D2 L2 and one of those defeats was an excusable one against leaders Barcelona. Six of their eight goals scored in La Liga during this campaign have come on home turf and they earned good draws against Villarreal and Osasuna, both of which start the weekend above Real Betis in the standings.
Real Betis are unbeaten in their last four league games, drawing their last two against Atheltici Bilbao and Celta Vigo. Out on the road they have posted only a W1 D3 L2 record, so while they clearly are the better of the two teams, they haven’t converted their chances on the road very well this season.
This La Liga match between Valencia and Real Betis will be played on Nov 23, 2024 and kick off at 13:00. Check below for our tipsters best Valencia vs Real Betis prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
