On Sunday, Real Betis will host Real Sociedad at the Benito Villamarin in a pivotal clash for Europa League qualification.
Real Betis, currently seventh in La Liga with 56 points from 36 matches, trail sixth-placed Real Sociedad by just one point.
Los Verdiblancos have a solid recent record against Real Sociedad, remaining unbeaten in their last eight encounters across all competitions. However, the last two meetings between the sides ended in goalless draws.
Manuel Pellegrini's side moved into sixth place with a 3-2 victory over Almeria on matchday 35 last weekend, only to slip back to seventh following a frustrating 2-2 draw at Las Palmas on Thursday.
Betis were hopeful of a valuable win against Las Palmas, a team on an eight-game losing streak, especially after taking the lead twice through a Mika Marmol own goal and an Ayoze Perez strike. Yet, they conceded two equalizers, dropping points and allowing Real Sociedad to reclaim sixth place ahead of the final two matchdays.
Despite the setback, the draw extended Betis' unbeaten run to six matches, leaving them five points clear of Villarreal and on the cusp of securing European qualification for the fourth consecutive season.
Currently, Los Verdiblancos are positioned to clinch a Europa Conference League spot. However, victories over Real Sociedad and Real Madrid in their final two games would secure a sixth-place finish (as in 2022-23) and Europa League qualification.
Betis will be without their standout player of the season, Isco, who sustained a leg injury in Thursday's match, ruling him out for the remaining games and dashing his hopes of a call-up to Spain's Euro 2024 squad. Argentine midfielder Guido Rodriguez, who was also forced off midweek, will need to be assessed ahead of Sunday's showdown.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini continues to deal with the absences of Marc Bartra, Chimy Avila and Cedric Bakambu, while German Pezzella remains a doubt after missing the last two matches.
Meanwhile, Youssouf Sabaly, Juan Miranda, Jonny Cardoso, and Willian Jose are all expected to be recalled to the starting lineup, with Nabil Fekir also set to feature from the start.
La Real aim to end a winless streak at the Benito Villamarin, having not won there since October 2020.
Real Sociedad secured a narrow 1-0 victory at home against Valencia on Thursday, capitalizing on Betis' draw with Las Palmas.
An early third-minute goal from Andre Silva was enough to edge out Valencia, earning La Real their second consecutive home win with a clean sheet. This solid defensive performance marked Real Sociedad's 14th La Liga shutout of the season, with just 37 goals conceded in 36 matches, tying them with Athletic Bilbao for the second-best defensive record in the league.
While Imanol Alguacil's team won't match last season's fourth-place finish, a win over Betis will guarantee a top-six finish for the sixth consecutive season. Real Sociedad travel to Andalusia with the fourth-best away record in La Liga, having amassed 27 points from 18 games on the road.
Real Sociedad's squad faces injury challenges, though, with Martin Zubimendi, Igor Zubeldia, Aihen Munoz, Martin Merquelanz, and Carlos Fernandez all sidelined. Atletico Madrid loanee Javi Galan is also a doubt after missing recent matches with a foot injury.
Alguacil might consider recalling Hamari Traore, Brais Mendez, Sheraldo Becker, and Mikel Oyarzabal after making several changes in midweek.
Real Betis: Rui Silva - Youssouf Sabaly, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Chadi Riad, Abner - Guido RodrÃguez, Johnny Cardoso - Pablo Fornals, Nabil Fekir, Ayoze Perez - Willian Jose. (4-2-3-1)
Real Sociedad: Alex Remiro - Kieran Tierney, Robin Le Normand, Aritz Elustondo, Hamari Traore - Benat Turrientes, Mikel Merino - Ander Barrenetxea, Sheraldo Becker, Brais Mendez - Takefusa Kubo. (4-2-3-1)
Real Betis have drawn three of their last four league meetings with Real Sociedad, and given the evenly matched nature of the two teams, another draw could be on the cards for Sunday's contest.
Given the attacking potential and defensive resilience of both Real Betis and Real Sociedad, Sunday night's La Liga encounter promises to be a closely contested battle. Real Betis, motivated by their pursuit of a Europa League spot, will leverage their home advantage and recent unbeaten streak. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad, buoyed by their solid defensive record and impressive away form, will aim to secure their first win at Benito Villamarin since 2020.
Both teams possess the offensive talent to break through tough defenses. Betis will be looking to capitalize on some of their experienced players' return to the starting XI, while Real Sociedad will rely on their robust defensive strategy and quick counter-attacks. Given these dynamics, it's likely that both sides will find the back of the net in what should be an exciting and high-stakes match.
