Granada will be looking to avoid a fourth consecutive loss when they host Real Betis in the La Liga. The visitors are now seated in 10th after a shaky start to the new season. The hosts are mired in 19th after six games.
Preview (Granada vs. Real Betis)
Last Saturday, despite playing the final 32 minutes with an additional man. Granada lost 1-0 to Las Palmas, adding to their dismal start to the new campaign. However, the hosts ended up taking all three points with a 92nd-minute winner from Kirian Rodriguez. Paco Lopez is feeling the heat as his team is in the relegation zone. They have dropped five of its first six La Liga games. The 56-year-old can ill afford any more defeats in the team’s next two games against Real Betis and Almeria.
However, Granada will be happy to return to the Estadio Los Carmenes on Thursday. They have won two of the last three home matches against Real Betis. Their lone top-flight victory this season came against Mallorca when they defeated them 3-2 at the end of August. Real Betis had a lot of ups and downs at the beginning of this season. Recently they have had more downs after winning just one of their past five games in all competitions.
Following a 1-0 La Liga victory against Rayo Vallecano at the beginning of the month, Betis lost badly 5-0 at Barcelona in the league and narrowly lost 1-0 to Rangers in their Europa League group stage debut. After returning to La Liga play, Betis drew 1-1 with Cadiz last weekend. Chris Ramos’ goal for the visitors gave Los Verdiblancos the lead four minutes before halftime. Manuel Pellegrini’s team tied the score admirably just after the hour mark. Guido Rodriguez’s acrobatic effort flew into the bottom corner to salvage a point for the hosts.
After six La Liga games, Betis has won two, tied two, and lost two. In their previous three away games. Los Verdiblancos have lost all three, giving up a total of ten goals. However, they came away with all three points when they last played at Estadio Los Carmenes. They defeated Granada 2-1 in September 2021 on the strength of goals from Rodri and Sergio Canales.
Team News
Miguel Rubio of Granada has missed the last two games due to injury and is a serious question mark for Thursday, while Jesus Vallejo, a teammate, has missed the last four games due to injury and is not likely to play against Betis. Gonzalo Villar, who has started as a substitute in five of Granada’s first six league games this season, will be vying for the starting spot in center midfield. Jose Callejon, a former Real Madrid winger who was benched last time out, will be looking to force his way back into the starting lineup at the expense of either Oscar Melendo or Antonio Puertas.
Nabil Fekir (ACL), William Carvalho (calf), Rui Silva (muscle), and Youssouf Sabaly (thigh) remain out with injuries for Real Betis, though the last three may be able to make a comeback at some point next month. In the early going of this season, Pellegrini alternated Juan Miranda and Abner at left-back; as a result, the latter may be in position to start on Thursday in place of the former, joining Hector Bellerin, German Pezzella, and Marc Bartra in the back four.
While Rodri, Isco, and Ayoze Perez are all set to stay in advanced midfield positions in front of deep-lying pair Rodriguez and Marc Roca, Borja Iglesias will continue to challenge William Jose for a start-up front. Following a poor run of results, both sides’ managers will be looking for a response on Thursday, with Granada facing further pressure to turn things around and avoid the relegation zone. Betis should possess more quality in the final third than Granada.
Granada 1 – 3 Real Betis
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