Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Real Betis - prediction, team news, lineups

Atletico Madrid will be looking to return to winning ways in La Liga when they continue their domestic campaign at home to Real Betis on Sunday afternoon.

Diego Simeone's side will enter the match off the back of a 2-2 draw at Levante on Thursday evening, while Betis, who have impressed this term, recorded a 4-1 victory at home to Valencia in their last game.

Match preview

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Atletico have won five, drawn four and lost one of their 10 league matches this season to collect 19 points, which is only good enough for sixth position in the table at this stage, and the champions are currently on a run of three games without a victory in all competitions.

Indeed, Simeone's side suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League on October 19 before playing out back-to-back 2-2 draws with Real Sociedad and Levante in La Liga.

The Red and Whites were close to securing all three points against Levante on Thursday, as Matheus Cunha's 76th-minute effort had sent them into a 2-1 lead, but Enis Bardhi scored his second penalty of the match in the 90th minute to ensure that the home side would secure a point in Valencia.

Atletico are five points behind league leaders Real Sociedad but have a game in hand over the Basque outfit, and the La Liga champions are now facing two huge matches in quick succession, tackling an in-form Betis this weekend before travelling to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Champions League next week.

Simeone's team have won three of their last four league games against Betis, including a 2-0 victory in the corresponding clash last term, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw when they last met in April.

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Betis, meanwhile, will enter this weekend's contest off the back of a 4-1 win over Valencia on Wednesday evening, with Borja Iglesias scoring twice in a brilliant display from the home side.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, winning six, drawing three and losing two of their 11 La Liga matches to collect 21 points, which has left them in fourth, three points behind leaders Real Sociedad.

Betis have actually been victorious in five of their last six league matches, including each of their last three against Alaves, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia, so the visitors should enter this contest full of confidence.

Los Verdiblancos have also excelled in the Europa League this season, picking up seven points from their three matches to sit second in Group G and well on course to reach the next round of the competition.

Betis finished sixth during an impressive 2020-21 La Liga campaign, but the indications are that they are capable of pushing even higher this term, with Pellegrini assembling an extremely talented squad at Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Team News

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Atletico will again be without the services of Thomas Lemar and Marcos Llorente for this weekend's contest through injury, while Geoffrey Kondogbia is likely to miss out once again.

Stefan Savic was back on the bench against Levante and could now come into the back three, though, while Rodrigo De Paul impressed off the bench on Thursday night and might have earned a spot in the first XI.

Simeone, who was sent off in the draw with Levante, is unlikely to make any changes to his front three, with Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez and Joao Felix set to take to the field once again.

As for Betis, Youssouf Sabaly and Victor Camarasa remain on the sidelines through injury, but Edgar Gonzalez is available for selection once again, having served a suspension.

Pellegrini could freshen his side in the full-back positions this weekend, with Hector Bellerin and Juan Miranda potentially coming into the XI, but there are unlikely to be any alterations in attack, with Juanmi, Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales set to play behind Borja Iglesias.

There are also not expected to be any changes in the middle of the park, with William Carvalho set to join Guido Rodriguez, meaning that Andres Guardado might have to accept a spot on the bench once again.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Savic, Gimenez, Hermoso; Trippier, Koke, De Paul, Carrasco; Griezmann, L Suarez, Felix

Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Bellerin, Pezzella, Ruiz, Miranda; Rodriguez, Carvalho; Juanmi, Canales, Fekir; Iglesias

We say: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Betis

This is a very, very difficult match for Atletico, with Betis enjoying a fine start to the campaign; it would not be a surprise to see a draw or indeed an away victory on Sunday, but we just have a feeling that the home side will shade a close contest to put an important three points on the board.