RCD Espanyol vs Real Betis Best odds and tips

Espanyol have enough quality and experience to hold Real Betis to a draw in a close encounter between two clubs with contrasting styles on Sunday. Manolo Gonzalez has made Espanyol a tough nut to crack since taking over as head coach in March 2024, although they are still fighting for mid-table safety. Periquitos have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five La Liga matches, seeing off Getafe 1-0 at home, drawing 1-1 away at Valencia and losing 1-0 at Villarreal. Roberto Fernandez has scored three goals in Espanyol’s last five La Liga games and has emerged as their most potent threat in the final third during a recent run of good results. Javier Puado leads the scoring charts for Espanyol with 11 goals in 30 La Liga appearances and will be a danger man on Sunday. Espanyol have won seven, drawn six and lost three of their 16 home La Liga games this season, scoring 20 goals.

Real Betis are on a roll, having won their last two games – a 3-1 away win over Girona and a 5-1 thrashing of Real Valladolid at home. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have won six, drawn four and lost six of their 16 away La Liga games this season, conceding 22 goals. Betis are playing with flair, as Pellegrini’s possession-based 4-2-3-1 system allows his players to express themselves in a fluid, attacking style. Isco pulls the strings in the centre of the field, providing both creativity and a clinical edge, having scored eight goals in just 17 La Liga appearances. Betis’ recent attacking flurry has included goals from multiple sources and their front-line is full of players capable of hurting Espanyol on Sunday. Espanyol will be compact and hard to break down in a 4-4-2 system, while Betis will try to keep the ball and play through the thirds.

Espanyol are a tough nut to crack and have not lost their last home game against Betis, but the visitors come into this game on the back of two wins and are improving their consistency on the road. The bookmakers make Espanyol 2.33 favourites for this, which seems a bit short given Betis are 3.20 outsiders and the Draw is 3.23. Espanyol have won three of their last five La Liga games, but Betis have won their last two and we think the momentum is with the visitors here. Espanyol have scored eight goals in their last five La Liga games, so we think a Betis win and Both Teams to Score is a strong alternative bet to the away win at the same odds.