Who will stop the bleeding?

A duel of the disappointed is coming up in the south of Spain. After a passable start to the season, there was a damper on the last matchday in each case. For the hosts, the opponent was the issue and for the guests, the level of the result. The latter may also have led to the betting odds speaking for Betis Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano.

Another reason may be the value of the respective squads. At Betis combine for over 200 million. The guests from Vallecas do not even reach the 100. Seen in this way, of course, a certain difference in quality in the squad can be noticed. This logically also flows into the considerations of the betting providers. For Betis Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano, the predictions are for a home win.

At the same time, the guests’ start to the season was actually wonderful. The first two games were won away “to 0”. In the first home game, however, there was a rude awakening in a city derby.

The hosts, on the other hand, have had a mediocre start. An opening win, a draw against a top team, but then an avoidable defeat against a direct competitor for the European Cup. For Betis Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano, however, the odds assume a trend reversal for the Green-Whites.

Betis Sevilla – statistics & current form

It started according to plan, then the finish was lacking and in the end it was too little. So the first three match days of Real Betis Balompie can be summarized. Not necessarily reason to panic. But there is no joy in the boss either.

El Majestro

The man who has been wielding the baton at Benito Villamarin since 2020 is well known and well-traveled. Manuel Pellegrini has been plowing the sidelines of this world since 1988. Since 2004 and his five-year engagement at Villareal, he is also known in Europe.

He took Malaga to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and won the first championship in decades with ManCity. After a rather unhappy time at West Ham, he made Betis respectable again. The highlight was undoubtedly winning the Copa del Rey in 2022, but it’s consistency above all that the Beticos love him for.

The staff

The success, of course, has to come from the team, but he sets the direction. The biggest topic of this summer was probably to find a replacement for “Senor Betis” (Joaquin). After the end of his career, the new heroes are Marc Roca (Leeds), Isco (club-less) or homecomer Hector Bellerin (Sporting), among others.

These should add class to the squad. When Nabil Fekir is fit again, it will look quite usable. In the here and now, however, things are still limping a bit. But that changes the ratings only marginally, because Betis Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano is seen by tips as a clear bank for the home draw.

The start

This may well be due to the previous performances. The start was happy with a 2:1 at Villareal. On matchday two, the Green-Whites then hosted Atleti. In the end, it was a 0-0 draw, but it should be mentioned that Betis was much closer to a winning goal and the Colchoneros were quite happy with the point.

What clouds the picture at the end is the 2:4 in the San Mames the previous week. After ten minutes it was already 2:0 for Betis. Then they conceded three goals from minute 30. They never recovered from that and even had to swallow a fourth. Time for redemption.

Predicted lineup of Betis Sevilla:

Real Betis (Expected lineup) 4-3-3

Rayo Vallecano – statistics & current form

Everything was going so splendidly and then Rayo had to compete in front of their own crowd. The first appearance of coach and team in Vallecas was something between horror and slapstick.

In the summer, the team had actually worked quite well. Without a doubt, the departure of ex-coach Iraola to Bournemouth was an issue. However, this was resolved relatively quickly (albeit surprisingly) with Francisco.

In terms of transfers, there were no major coups either on the way in or out. Jorge de Frutos (Levante), Sergio Camello (Atletico) and Alfonso Espino (Cadiz) were probably the best-known names. They entered the season with solid additions and a minus of just under 12 million.

The Start

This year’s start has been somewhat of a challenge, especially for fans of the Bukaneros. On the first match days they always played (or will play) on Friday or Monday. Annoying for travel, of which Rayo had to make some. The first two rounds were away.

For the opener they went to Almeria. There they won outright through two penalties. The second matchday led to Granada. There, too, the score was 0 and three points were bagged. Two games, six points, 4:0 goals. Everything was wonderful. But then came the home game of horror.

The first home game

What happened there on 29.8.2023 in Vallecas,  will probably go down in club annals. In the city derby against Atletico it set a 0:7. Alone at the break, the Colchoneros were already 3:0 in front. It was a comedy of errors of the most beautiful kind. It started after two minutes with Antoine Griezmann alone in the penalty area, 0:1. In minute 16 Hernandez let a cross pass under his feet. Depay can’t help it, so to speak, and it’s 0:2.

For goals three to six, the back four stood tall and let Messrs. Molina, Morata and Correa rush alone towards Dimitrievski. He then shot unchallenged from a few meters into the legs of the opponent and conceded the 0:7 with a lob. Rayo must now first digest this. They are undoubtedly better than this game has shown, but the defense can collectively afford such a day once per career, otherwise Betis is already sharpening the knives.

Predicted lineup of Rayo Vallecano:

Rayo Vallecano (Expected lineup) 4-4-2

Betis Sevilla – Rayo Vallecano Direct comparison / H2H balance

The head-to-head is quite one-sided. The annual double date (peppered with a bit of Copa) results in five wins for Betis and five draws in the last ten meetings. Rayo managed to convert one of them in extra time to advance. However, they usually don’t have much to laugh about when it comes against the Beticos. That’s reflected in the odds for Betis Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano.

Betis Sevilla – Rayo Vallecano bet

When looking at the squad and its quality and experience, the Andalusians have clear advantages. With the coach as well. So it is quite obvious what most betting shops whistle from the rooftops.

For Betis Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano, the forecasts assume a clear home victory. It will be exciting to see how the defensives have digested last weekend.

The start of the season tends to favor Betis. True, the men from Heliopolis have two points less than their guests. However, they won these against far more complex opponents. Especially with a view to the last matchday, it is possible to talk about the different outcomes against the Colchoneros.

Here, for the first time, they kicked against a high-quality opponent. With a terrible result. At this level, a victory is unlikely to be repeated and yet we believe in the Verdiblancos. For Betis Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano tip 1 is with us.