Real Betis will take on Barcelona in the midst of turmoil at Camp Nou. Manager Xavi Hernandez’s face is all over the headlines in Spain after a series of disappointing results have sparked swirling rumors about his place in the club. Dysfunction in the locker room, including disputes with current players, are chief among the concerns. Continue reading for an expert Real Betis vs Barcelona prediction and explore stats and tips for Real Betis odds.
- Real Betis Balompie vs FC Barcelona, LaLiga
- January 21, 2024
- 12:30 PM EST
- Estadio Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain
- ESPN+, ESPN Deportes
Real Betis vs Barcelona Prediction: Who do Sportsbooks Favor?
Real Betis is priced as that of a typical lower-skilled club facing elite competition at home with a line of (+327). Barcelona are odds-on favorites, albeit short, against Betis. Their line of (-121) indicates an implied probability the Blaugrana will win at 54.8%. A draw, which would most likely be considered a success by Betis, pays out at (+295).
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our online soccer betting tips and learn about La Liga betting odds.
Real Betis Struggling to Score
Real Betis has faced a goal-scoring challenge in the current season, managing only 22 goals in 20 games and averaging a modest 1.10 goals per game. Notably, their leading goal-scorer, Willian Jose, has only netted six goals, ranking as the third-lowest in the league in terms of highest individual goal tally. On the defensive front, Betis has shown resilience, conceding only 20 goals in 20 games and maintaining eight clean sheets.
The expected goals metric paints a similar picture, although a bit inflated. 1.39 goals per game are expected from Betis, to an allowed goals expected of 1.43. Compared to 1.10 goals and 1.00 goals, respectively, these numbers are not necessarily shocking. However, it does tell us that Betis have been slightly unlikely to score as few goals as they have, and slightly lucky to allow as few goals as they have.
Barcelona Odds and H2H
While Barcelona has successfully secured the victories needed to stay in the LaLiga title race, the journey has been anything but smooth. Concerns among the Barca faithful have arisen as a series of one-goal wins against notably weaker opponents have sparked skepticism. Notably, Barcelona has clinched victory by a narrow one-goal margin in 11 of their last 12 wins, a trend that persisted even in a match against fourth-tier UD Barbastro in the Round of 32 Copa del Rey encounter.
The champions boast an impressive track record against Betis, having emerged victorious in nine out of the last 10 league meetings, clinching each of the last five encounters in Seville. Adding to their strengths, they will have the lethal marksman Robert Lewandowski at their disposal to trouble the hosts once again. Since his move to the Catalan city in 2022, the Polish striker has found the net in all four of his appearances against Betis.
Manager Xavi Hernandez On the Block?
Head Coach Xavi Hernández, as per ESPN reports, is in a struggle to retain the support of the players, with a portion of the first-team squad losing faith in him even before the setback in Sunday's Spanish Supercopa final against Real Madrid. Xavi denies such allegations, stating if there was such discord, he would know about it. It remains to be seen if Xavi will remain with the club much longer, but his track record is strong: 75 wins in 120 games, along with a Spanish Super Cup and La Liga title in his first full season as the club's manager.
Barcelona is facing challenges on the injury front, with players like Gavi, Marcos Alonso, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Raphinha, and Inigo Martinez currently undergoing recovery on the treatment table. Additionally, the inclusion of Joao Cancelo in the lineup is considered highly unlikely.
Real Betis vs Barcelona Prediction and Free Betting Pick
Barcelona conceded first in their Round of 16 Copa del Rey match against third-tier Unionistas, forcing them to go all-out in attack. Barca recovered and ended up winning by a comfortable score of 3-1 but the threat felt real. Barcelona was unable to take a lead until almost the 70th minute.
Real Betis, on the other hand, are coming into this match well rested. Their last fixture against Granada was on January 13, giving them 8 days to prepare for one of their biggest LaLiga matches. Good teams tend to step up their game against elite opposition at home, hoping to prove their mettle against the best. However, Betis have not looked themselves recently, winning only once since December 6 thanks to a gratuitous scheduling with Granada at home.
I think Barcelona will be sluggish and feeling the effects of their Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey efforts, which demanded every bit of their energy. Xavi will have to field a younger, more inexperienced lineup yet again due to injury, and concerns within the locker room will not help things.
Barcelona’s propensity to keep games close leads me to bet the under here. I don’t trust Betis to get a win but see a draw or close loss in the cards. Therefore, let’s buy up to 3 total goals and take the under at (-138). This number is available at an alternate total line on BetUS. However, stick with just a half unit: Game script can always come into play at the worst time with totals.
Odds are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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