Atl. Madrid vs Betis prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-05-17 17:00.
[p]Having been heavily involved in the La Liga title race for the vast majority of the season, Atlético Madrid are now at risk of dropping out of the top three. A disappointing 2-0 defeat at Osasuna on Thursday has cut their advantage over fourth-place to just three points with two matches to go, with boss Diego Simeone alarmingly admitting he “isn’t finding a way to inspire the players” on the road.[/p]
[p]Their uninspiring away form leaves them three points worse off than the same stage of the previous two seasons and includes a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis in the reverse fixture. Atlético’s confidence should be much higher at home where only Barcelona have beaten them in La Liga this season (W13, D4), while their last defeat on their own turf against Betis came way back in December 2011 (W11, D1).[/p]
[p]Betis have dreaded this fixture in recent years, scoring just once across their last eight visits, but a strong run to end the season means they might fancy their chances here. Manuel Pellegrini’s men are unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions (W4, D4), drawing each of their last three after coming from two goals down at half-time to take a point from Rayo Vallecano in midweek.[/p]
[p]Betis are assured of UEFA Europa League qualification through their league position, but a top-five finish and Champions League football isn’t yet out of the question. They trail fifth-placed Villarreal – who travel to Barcelona this weekend – by five points with two matches to go, and might fancy their chances here against the unmotivated hosts after avoiding defeat on the road in any competition since February (W6, D4).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Atlético’s recent slump is epitomised by Antoine Griezmann’s struggles in front of goal, as he’s failed to score in his last 14 appearances. He’s lost just three times against Betis in his La Liga career though, directly contributing to 13 goals in 23 such H2Hs (G8, A5). Betis’ Cucho Hernández has been involved in four goals in as many appearances (G3, A1), with each coming after half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Betis have lost just two of their nine league matches this season against teams starting this round above them (W3, D4).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]