Real Betis vs Leganes: A Crucial Clash in La Liga’s Fifth Week
As La Liga approaches its fifth gameweek, Real Betis is gearing up for a critical match against Leganes at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on Friday night. With Real Betis still searching for their first win of the 2024-25 season, this game represents a pivotal moment for Manuel Pellegrini's squad. Having accumulated just two points from their opening three games, Betis finds themselves precariously placed in 17th position. Their opponents, Leganes, on the other hand, have made a more solid start, sitting comfortably in 9th place with five points from four matches.
Real Betis's season so far has been less than stellar. They have drawn their first two fixtures against Girona and Alaves, followed by a disappointing 2-0 loss to Real Madrid before the international break. Despite these struggles in La Liga, Betis has shown some promise in European competition, securing a 5-0 aggregate victory over Kryvbas to advance to the Conference League group stages. Now, with a string of home games against Leganes, Getafe, and Mallorca, Pellegrini’s side is under pressure to turn their form around and climb the league table.
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Leganes, returning to La Liga as the Segunda Division champions, have demonstrated resilience early in the season. After a mixed start that included a 1-1 draw with Osasuna and a 2-1 win over Las Palmas, they drew 0-0 with Real Valladolid but ended their pre-international break period with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mallorca. Despite this setback, Leganes will be eager to bounce back and prove their worth against a struggling Betis side.
In terms of team news, Real Betis is grappling with a lengthy injury list. Key players such as Marc Roca, Juanmi, Marc Bartra, Nobel Mendy, Cedric Bakambu, and Isco are all unavailable, which could impact Pellegrini's tactical plans. New signing Vitor Roque might feature, although he is expected to continue coming off the bench for now. Aitor Ruibal could lead the line, with Giovani Lo Celso potentially playing a role out wide, having returned from Tottenham Hotspur.
Leganes will be without Renato Tapia due to a muscle injury, but otherwise, they are in good shape. Yvan Neyou is expected to fill in for Tapia, while Juan Cruz, who has already scored twice this season, and Munir El Haddadi are likely to feature prominently in the starting lineup.
The match promises to be a tightly contested affair, with both sides having their own set of motivations. Real Betis needs to secure a win to improve their league standing and gain some much-needed confidence. Meanwhile, Leganes will look to capitalize on Betis's current struggles and solidify their position in the upper half of the table.
Given the current form and home advantage, a close encounter is anticipated, but Real Betis might just edge it with a 2-1 victory. This match could be a turning point for Betis as they strive to recover from their early-season setbacks and reassert their presence in La Liga.
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