Betis vs Mallorca prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-03-18 13:00.
Real Betis threw everything they had at Manchester United in the first half of an ultimately unsuccessful UEFA Europa League Round of 16 home leg prior to succumbing to a 1-0 loss in that game which confirmed their elimination. Now La Liga’s (LL) fifth-placed side can devote their entire attention to securing their place in next year’s edition – or even the Champions League – both of which are realistic targets considering the four-point buffer they maintained from sixth-placed Villarreal heading into the round after drawing with them 1-1 last weekend.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini was not disheartened by the midweek European result, pointing to the enormous budgetary differences between them and the English giants before lamenting the poor luck of the draw. The task now is to extend their unbeaten LL run to six games (W3, D2) by completing a league double over upcoming opponents Mallorca, who they conquered in the second round 2-1 courtesy of two Borja Iglesias penalty kicks.
Following their 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad, Mallorca started this round in the delicate position of being six points both from the top six and from the relegation zone. Manager Javier Aguirre conceded his team looked “clueless” at the start of the clash, but used his tactical nous to change formation at half-time to secure what was just their second equalising goal in 14 LL matches.
The only other came in their most recent away trip, when giving up the lead to Martin Brathwaite and Espanyol in each half (L 2-1). That saw Mallorca end the previous round with the league’s second-longest losing streak away from home (L5), though, at least they were able to score on that occasion unlike the previous four. They’ll be hoping not to repeat that most recent outing here, especially as precisely the same thing happened in the reverse H2H, where Betis’ Borja Iglesias scored twice on either side of a Vedat Muriqi equaliser!
Players to watch: Juanmi is aiming to score Betis’ first goal for a third time across their last four LL home outings, whilst Muriqi’s equaliser against Espanyol was the ninth time this LL season that he recorded Mallorca’s opening goal.
Hot streak: Betis’ last 11 LL matches were either drawn or decided by a one-goal margin.