Ath Bilbao vs Betis prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-05-03 20:00.
For European chasing Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis, facing off at this stage of the season offers all the hallmarks of a ‘six pointer’. Starting the round occupying seventh spot, this is arguably a bigger game for Athletic, who know victory will be enough to see them leapfrog their visitors into LL’s sixth European spot, which currently remains the last one on offer pending the outcome of the Copa del Rey final.
Athletic may feel a sense of disappointment having already squandered the chance to move above Betis in the last round as they drew 1-1 against Mallorca, though they were fortunate to escape with a point considering they needed a contentious stoppage time penalty to draw level. That was a crushing blow and there are no guarantees of a response here, as Ernesto Valverde’s side have won just twice at Estadio San Mamés in league action this calendar year (D2, L4).
Enduring problems of their own of late, Real Betis also appear to be falling out of form at the most inopportune time. Eliminated from the UEFA Europa League and winning just two of their last nine LL games (D3, L4), Betis’ season is crumbling beneath them, with a bruising 4-0 defeat against Barcelona at the weekend sure to further dent confidence ahead of what looks to be a crucial match-up.
Returning to the road is unlikely to inspire hope of turning that form around either, as Betis have now lost three successive LL away outings. Not since June 2020 have Betis lost four travelling league games in a row, but as they travel to face an Athletic side they have only beaten seven times in 56 top-flight away H2Hs (D16, L33), losing the last eight on the bounce, Los Verdiblancos face the very real possibility of making unwanted history.
Players to watch: Iñaki Williams is the only Athletic player to score across their last four home league games and has netted the game’s first on six of his last seven goalscoring appearances. Betis will be hoping Borja Iglesias can repeat the impact he’s had in six of his ten scoring outings this term when he scored the game winning goal.
Hot streak: Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini is winless in his last six personal away H2Hs against Athletic (D2, L4).