Real Betis vs Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad and Real Betis are set to trade tackles in a potentially decisive La Liga battle in the race for European football next season.

A 2-1 win away to bottom-half Elche last time out made it no defeat from four La Liga fixtures for Real Sociedad (W3, D1), who are now back in contention for a top-four finish. With fourth-placed Atletico Madrid only three points clear, ‘La Real’ will be looking to build on a stellar home form that has seen them win their last four La Liga matches at Reale Arena by an aggregate score of 5-0. Having kept a clean sheet in their six previous top-flight outings at Reale Arena, Sociedad could go seven home league games without conceding for the first time in the club’s top-flight history. Probabilities are good, as Imanol Alguacil’s men are unbeaten in their last 12 La Liga home meetings with this opposition (W6, D6), having enjoyed a longer undefeated streak against them only once before (13).

On the other hand, Betis have gone from strength to strength since a 3-1 home reverse to Atletico in early March, racking up three wins from their four subsequent La Liga games (D1). Indeed, the visitors have reduced the gap on fourth-placed Atleti to a single point, meaning a potential victory here would catapult them into the final Champions League qualification spot, at least briefly. However, you have to go back to December 2003 to find Betis’ last La Liga triumph at Reale Arena. Additionally, ‘Los Verdiblancos’ have blown hot and cold across their three most recent league travels (W1, D1, L1), with both of those results (win/loss) yielding the identical 2-1 scoreline. Betis have been a fun team to watch on the road of late, with five of their last seven competitive away matches seeing over 2.5 goals and both sides scoring.