Why Backing Real Betis to Start Scoring Soon Could Pay Off

Real Betis have endured a difficult first half of the La Liga season, currently sitting in 12th place due to their attacking woes. Despite their consistent European finishes in recent years, Manuel Pellegrini’s side faces an uphill battle to qualify this time around.

A Team Underperforming Their xG

Defensively, Betis are conceding an average of 1.3 goals per game, in line with the league average. However, their attacking inefficiency has been their downfall. They are scoring just 1.1 goals per game, ranking among the bottom seven teams for goals scored.

Despite this, Betis boast the fifth-best expected goals (xG) tally in La Liga with 32.75, yet they have only converted 22 of those opportunities. This makes them the biggest xG underperformers in the league.

Vitor Roque, on loan from Barcelona, has netted four goals from an xG of 5.96, but the biggest underperformer is Abdessamad Ezzalzouli. The winger has managed just one goal despite accumulating the highest xG in the squad (8.17).

Antony’s Arrival Could Spark a Turnaround

To address their attacking woes, Betis have secured Manchester United’s Antony on loan. The Brazilian, who struggled in the Premier League following his £80m transfer, has an opportunity to reignite his career in Spain. His pace and flair in one-on-one situations could provide Betis with the attacking spark they’ve been missing.

Manager Pellegrini is hopeful that Antony will form a productive partnership with fellow Brazilian Vitor Roque, potentially transforming Betis’ attacking output.

Favourable Fixtures on the Horizon

Betis’ upcoming fixture against Mallorca presents an ideal opportunity to rediscover their scoring touch. Los Verdiblancos have dominated recent encounters, winning eight of the last 11 meetings and scoring in all of them.

Mallorca’s defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed since the winter break, conceding 10 goals in their last three matches, including a heavy 4-0 defeat to Villarreal and a shock 3-0 loss to fourth-tier Pontevedra CF.

After Mallorca, Betis face Athletic Bilbao at home—a fixture in which they have scored seven goals across their last four encounters. Last season, they claimed a convincing 3-1 victory, making over 1.5 goals a promising betting option once again.

Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

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