Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis

Atletico Madrid will be looking to come back to winning ways in La Liga when they take on in-form Real Betis at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico Madrid’s La Liga title defense has been off to a mixed start, as a brace of 2-2 draws with Levante and Real Sociedad leaves ‘Los Rojiblancos’ at one win in four league fixtures (W1, L1). A rough patch highlighted by Atletico’s uncharacteristic defensive woes has left them five points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid. Keen to make the most out of their game in hand over cross-town rivals, Diego Simeone’s men go up against a Betis side they’ve only lost to once in 17 La Liga encounters under the Argentine manager (W12, D4). What’s more, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ have won seven of their previous eight top-flight home meetings with Betis (D1), keeping a clean sheet in the last five in a row.

Meanwhile, Betis’ top-four charge has gained some momentum since a 2-0 away defeat to Villarreal, as they’ve since won three consecutive La Liga fixtures by an aggregate score of 8-3. Currently fourth in the table, two points clear of their hosts, ‘Los Verdiblancos’ face an opportunity to prove their top-four credentials and build on more than a decent start away from home (W3, D1, L1). Two of Betis’ three La Liga away triumphs this season have yielded a narrow one-goal margin. Interestingly, that is the same margin that they’ve lost to Atletico in three of their last five La Liga H2Hs in Madrid. Indeed, Betis’ recent trips to the capital have been nothing if not painful, with Manuel Pellegrini’s men drawing a blank in each of their last seven La Liga visits to Madrilean sides (D3, L4).