Betis vs Mallorca prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-11-03 15:15.
Real Betis are rolling along nicely and remain undefeated since late September (W5, D4), including an enormous 12-1 Copa del Rey demolition during the week, which sees them within touching distance of La Liga’s (LL) top six and on top of their UEFA Europa League group. Defeating Osasuna 2-1 last Saturday via an injury time winner means that Betis have now kept their opposition to a goal or less in their last ten games, although they only managed two clean sheets in that time.
Slow starts and late action are becoming recurring themes of LL football at Estadio Benito VillamarĂn, where Los Verdiblancos have not netted earlier than the 40th minute in any of their last five home LL fixtures (W3, D2). Having recently signed free agent Sokratis Papastathopoulos to bolster their defence, they’ll hope to continue not only their good home form but an imposing head-to-head record that includes six wins from their last nine home games against next opposition Mallorca (D2, L1).
On the basis of not defeating Betis at any venue since May 2013 (D2, L6), Mallorca should be expecting a tough encounter, particularly as they were teetering on the brink of the relegation zone after a scoreless draw at home to Getafe. “We are missing the icing on the cake, which is the goal,” manager Javier Aguirre declared after presiding over a fourth stalemate in six winless LL games (L2).
He might reasonably expect his side to have more joy in front of goal here as three-quarters of their 12 LL goals have come away from home, the equal-highest percentage of all LL clubs. Despite scoring in all but one of their six LL away fixtures this season (W1, D2, L3), the Pirates have not plundered a LL away win other than two at Celta Vigo since the 2022 FIFA World Cup (D3, L13).
Players to watch: If there’s to be more late action in this fixture then watch out for Betis’ Isco and Mallorca’s Abdón Prats as the game goes on. The former has scored two of his three goals this term after the 80th minute, whilst four of Prats’ last six LL goals came beyond the 85th!
Hot stat: Betis are yet to lose a second half in a LL home game this season (2H: W3, D2).