Betis vs Osasuna prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-10-28 13:00.
Despite a seven-game unbeaten run across all competitions (W3, D4), Real Betis are facing somewhat of a crisis on the pitch. A series of injuries left manager Manuel Pellegrini with only two central defensive options available for their important midweek Europa League trip to Cyprus, but they were still able to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win. They have at least bolstered the defensive ranks with the addition of 35-year-old Greek veteran Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who is set to be reunited with former Arsenal teammate Hector Bellerin, but even still, they remain short of reinforcements.
Credit should then go to an attacking unit that has scored in five consecutive La Liga (LL) games, allowing them to graft out a 3-0 win over Valencia in their previous home outing amongst a flurry of four 1-1 draws. The pessimistic Betis fan may point out that all four 1-1 draws were against sides beneath them in the standings after the last round, suggesting they have missed some excellent opportunities, particularly after opening the scoring in three of them.
Osasuna didn’t have European football to keep them busy this week and should therefore be quite fresh, particularly as their previous LL game – a 2-0 home win against lowly Granada – was the Friday game in the last round. One point behind Betis and also in a mid-table position, they now have an opportunity not only to leapfrog their hosts but to get within touching distance of the top six.
They’ve got one recent happy memory of visiting Estadio Benito VillamarĂn in Seville, progressing to the quarter-finals of the previous Copa del Rey via a penalty shootout win over Betis. It could be the inspiration they need to end a streak of five consecutive LL H2H away losses by an 11-1 aggregate scoreline, particularly as they have the distinction of winning three of five LL away games (L2) as underdogs this season.
Players to watch: After he was rested last weekend, Ayoze PĂ©rez provided a timely winner against Aris Limassol during the week and now has goals in his last two competitive appearances. Osasuna veteran Ante Budimir recorded a match-winning brace in his previous H2H, as he did in the last LL round against Granada.
Hot stat: All but two of Osasuna’s LL games this season saw the half-time result replicated at the final whistle.