Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
A decent start to the season for Real Betis and Mallorca has placed them in the upper half of the table. However, both teams are facing challenges with their finishing — advanced statistics indicate that both teams should have scored more in their previous matches.
Real Betis
Following a setback against Real Madrid (0:2), Real Betis secured hard-fought victories against CD Leganés (2:0) and Getafe CF (2:1). In these fixtures, Real Betis generated a cumulative 4.78 xG, with one of the goals coming from a penalty — highlighting their struggles with finishing. After Nabil Fekir's departure, the club has been forced to play Chimy Ávila out of position, and with William Carvalho’s injury, the coaching staff is reinforcing the midfield to strengthen the defensive zone.
Mallorca
Mallorca, under their previous coach, have never been known for impressive play in the opponent's half. In six La Liga rounds, the team has only surpassed the total over 2.5 once, and they also have finishing issues (4 goals from 6.08 xG). The victory over Real Sociedad (1:0) on Tuesday showed that Mallorca will likely focus on defence to maintain a slim lead — they struggle with spending extended periods in attack.
Real Betis vs Mallorca Prediction
Both teams have three key injured players, and since March 2023, Real Betis and Mallorca have played to the total under 2.5 in all three of their head-to-head encounters. The closing match of the La Liga round is likely to be low-scoring.
