Sevilla vs Betis prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-11-11 17:30.
Sevilla’s bid to revive their campaign with a mid-season change of manager has not yet gone to plan. New boss Diego Alonso is yet to win a competitive match against top-flight opposition (D3, L2) since taking charge, following a 2-0 UEFA Champions League loss at Arsenal that has them bottom of their group in that competition. Meanwhile, three consecutive La Liga (LL) draws under Alonso have left Sevilla 15th and in an increasingly unlikely position to be back in Europe in any capacity next term.
Club president José Castro “emphatically” backed his new appointment after they failed to win away at relegation candidates Celta Vigo (1-1), promising patience would be rewarded with better results. And securing a home clean sheet, something Los Nervionenses have earned just once in 2023/24, would certainly be a good place to start. They can at least draw on recent history with arch-rivals Real Betis for some inspiration, having won eight of the last ten LL H2Hs at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (D1, L1).
But times have changed. Not only are Sevilla experiencing their joint second-worst start to a season this century, Betis are in top shape ahead of this Seville derby. With an almost entirely different starting line-up to the one that conquered Mallorca (2-0) last weekend, Betis thumped Cypriot side Aris Limassol during the week to claim top spot in their UEFA Europa League group. It was their fifth consecutive competitive victory as Manuel Pellegrini’s men occupy a European place (sixth) in the standings heading into this round.
Little-known goalkeeper Fran Vieites could be in line to make his second career LL appearance after Claudio Bravo finished Thursday’s game against Aris in great discomfort, needing medical treatment after the hosts on that occasion had used all five of their substitutes. That potential alteration could make Betis’ pursuit of a first clean sheet in eight league away matches (W2, D3, L2) all the more difficult, although that previous shutout was coincidentally secured at Sevilla in May in a 0-0 draw.
Players to watch: Sevilla midfielder Nemanja Gudelj will be looking to add to his three competitive goals this term, having been the club’s only goalscorer against Betis in 2022/23. His colleagues will have to keep a close eye on Betis’ Willian José, who was rested during the week after opening the scoring in their last two LL games.
Hot stat: Sevilla have opened the scoring just three times this LL season, with only Granada (twice) having done so on fewer occasions heading into this round.