Preview: Real Betis vs. Leganes – Prediction, team news, lineups

Real Betis want to claim their first victory in the 2024-25 La Liga season when they Leganes to the Estadio Benito Villamarin on Friday evening.

The hosts have picked up two points from their three league games this season and are 17th in the table, while Leganes are ninth with five points from their first four games of the season.

Game Preview

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Real Betis' start to the 2024–25 La Liga season has been disappointing at best, drawing two of their three games, losing one and scoring just one goal.

Manuel PellegriniThe Real Madrid side drew their first two league games of the season against Girona and Alaves and suffered a 2-0 defeat to champions Real Madrid before the international break, but they did record two victories at European level to start the season.

In fact, the Seville side beat Kryvbas 2-0 away and 3-0 at home to make it 5-0 on aggregate in the Conference League play-off round, meaning the La Liga side will be competing in the league phase of the competition this season.

Real Betis currently have three consecutive home games against Leganés, Getafe and Mallorca and will look to get some wins to climb up the table, currently sitting in 17th place.

Pellegrini's team finished seventh in the Spanish top flight last season, which is somewhat disappointing considering they finished sixth, fifth and sixth between 2021 and 2023.

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Leganes, on the other hand, secured their return to La Liga as champions of the 2023–24 Segunda Division, meaning El Lega will be playing at this level of football for the first time in five seasons.

Borja JimenezThe team made a solid start to the season, picking up five points from four games, putting them in ninth place in the table ahead of their return to the field.

Leganes opened their season with a 1-1 draw against Osasuna before recording a 2-1 victory over Las Palmas to record their first top-flight success since July 2020.

The promoted team then drew 0-0 with Real Valladolid, but had to go into the international break after a 0-1 home defeat against Mallorca, so the guests will be hoping for a comeback in this match.

Leganes have won three of their last seven La Liga games against Real Betis, holding the Seville side to a goalless draw the last time the two teams met in February 2020.

Real Betis La Liga form:

Real Betis form (all competitions):

Leganes La Liga form:

Team News

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Real Betis has a relatively long injury list for this point in the season, with Marc Roca, Juanmi, Marc Bartra, Nobel Mendy, Cedric Bakambu And Isco all not available for selection.

Vitor Roque made his debut for the Green-Whites as a substitute against Real Madrid before the international break and the FC Barcelona loanee is pushing for a place in the starting line-up, but he could have to spend at least a few more weeks on the bench.

Aitor Ruibal could take the lead for the home team again on Friday evening, but there will be no Rodriwho has moved to Qatar, could therefore have an appearance on the wing for Giovanni Lo CelsoThe Argentine returned to the club from Tottenham Hotspur in the final stages of the summer transfer window.

As for Leganes, Renato Tapia is unavailable due to a muscle injury sustained last time out, but the visitors are otherwise in strong form and are heading into their fifth game of the new La Liga season.

Yvan Neyou is likely to be the player to benefit from Tapia's absence, with the 27-year-old set to make his fourth La Liga appearance in the 2024–25 season.

Juan Cruz has scored two goals in La Liga this season and the Spaniard could be included in the starting line-up here, while a starting line-up is also expected for Munir El Haddadi.

Possible starting eleven for Real Betis:
Silva; Sabaly, Llorente, Natan, Perraud; Cardoso, Carvalho; Lo Celso, Fornals, Ezzalzouli; Ruibal

Possible starting eleven for Leganes:
Soriano; Alti, Saenz, Gonzalez, Hernandez; Neyou, Brasanac; Cruz, Rodriguez, El Haddadi; DGarcia

We think: Real Betis 2-1 Leganes

Leganes have made a solid start to the season and are more than capable of making Real Betis uncomfortable. We expect a close game on Friday night, but believe the home side can take an important three points.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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