Alaves vs Betis prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-08-24 17:15.
[p]AlavĂ©s endured a far from ideal start to the La Liga season, as they were one of only four sides to lose on the opening weekend after squandering the lead in a 2-1 defeat at Celta Vigo. Boss Luis GarcĂa is unlikely to be panicking just yet though as they opened last term with an away loss before beating Sevilla at home en route to a first top-half finish in the top flight since 2016/17.[/p]
[p]It’s Sevilla’s neighbours Real Betis in town this weekend, and this is a fixture that Alavés avoided defeat in three times in the previous campaign (W1, D2), with the sole win coming in the Copa del Rey in January (1-0). Confidence will only grow among the hosts as they return to Mendizorrotza, a venue they lost just one of their final eight La Liga games at last season (W4, D3).[/p]
[p]Betis spent midweek in Slovakia as they were victorious in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League play-off against Kryvbas (2-0). That positive result followed a 1-1 draw against Girona on matchday one of the La Liga campaign, which leaves boss Manuel Pellegrini keen to inject some momentum into the team’s domestic season against an opponent he’s never lost a league game against in the dugout (W5, D3).[/p]
[p]Pellegrini will want his side to build on a four-match unbeaten run on the road at the end of 2023/24 (W2, D2), but his main aim will be to get them scoring more goals. Los Verdiblancos were the lowest scorers in the top eight last term, and improving on that record could well be key if Betis are to break into La Liga’s top four – and secure UEFA Champions League qualification – for the first time in 20 years.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: On target last week, AlavĂ©s’ Kike GarcĂa will want to replicate his matchday-two exploits from 12 months ago when he netted twice against Sevilla in a 4-3 victory. Betis’ creator-in-chief Nabil Fekir will be looking to break his scoring duck against AlavĂ©s this weekend after eight previous failures – only against Nice has he played more without finding the net (nine)![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Six of the last eight H2Hs have been level at half-time.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]