Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
The Benito Villamarín plays host to two sides who have made solid starts to the new season. Real Betis remain unbeaten with four points from their opening three matches, while Athletic Bilbao arrive with a perfect record after victories over Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano. Both clubs look organised at the back, though their attacking output still leaves questions.
Real Betis
Real Betis have taken a pragmatic approach under Manuel Pellegrini. A narrow 1:0 win against Alavés has been followed by two 1:1 draws with Elche and Celta de Vigo. Their defensive structure is compact and they make good use of free kicks and corners, but with Isco Suárez unavailable and the attack still not fully settled, there’s a lack of cutting edge. Just three goals have been scored in their first three fixtures. Negotiations are ongoing over a potential return for Antony Santos, though he will not feature here.
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao continue to play controlled, disciplined football. Last season only 14 of their 38 La Liga matches went over 2.5 goals, and that pattern seems to be holding. The Basques began with a 3:2 win over Sevilla before edging Rayo Vallecano (1:0). They’ve conceded only twice so far, relying on a strong core featuring Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, Álex Berenguer and Oihan Sancet — the latter scored 15 goals last term. History is also on the side of a low-scoring contest: in Seville, four of the last six meetings between these two have finished under 2.5 goals.
Real Betis vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction
With both teams well-drilled defensively and rarely involved in open, high-scoring games, chances could be at a premium once again. Expect another tight encounter.
