Real Betis vs Málaga prediction

So far in the La Liga, Real Betis have won seven, drawn two and lost two of 11, with 18 goals scored and 15 conceded, good for 4th place and 23 points.

Over the last six matches it has been three wins, two draws and one defeat, averaging 2.0 goals for and 1.7 against. Last time out they were held to a goalless draw by Celta; before that came a 1-0 win at home to Feyenoord and a 5-2 defeat at home to Barcelona.

Two clean sheets in that spell. At home they've won three of four recently (11 scored, 9 conceded). C. Hernandez (calf injury), F. Bernal (red card) and I. Losada (coach's decision), plus one other, are all unavailable.

Málaga have won none, drawn five and lost six of their 11 La Liga games so far, scoring 8 and letting in 21. That has them 20th on 5 points.

Their last six in all competitions read one win, two draws and three defeats, at 1.3 goals scored and 1.8 conceded per game. Last time out they beat Alcazar 3-0 away; before that came a 1-1 draw away at Alaves and a 5-2 defeat at home to Real Sociedad.

They have scored in each of their last four. On the road they've won one of three recently (4 scored, 2 conceded). A. Ochoa (knee injury), A. Recio (illness) and D. Murillo (knee injury), plus four others, are all unavailable.

Home and away form points to Real Betis: Real Betis have won three of their last four at home, Málaga one of their last three on the road. 18 points separate the two sides in the table. Real Betis also have the better goal difference over recent weeks.

We make Real Betis clear favourites at 73%, with Málaga on 9% and the draw at 18%.

On goals, it expects around 3.4 in the game: 2.7 for Real Betis and 0.7 for Málaga. Over 2.5 goals is 67% and both teams scoring 50%. When they last met, on 30 Apr 2018, Real Betis won 2-1.