- Real Betis have failed to win any of their last 3 away matches (D2, L1) in LaLiga.
- Girona have avoided defeat in their last 3 matches (W2, D1), including a 1-0 home win over Villarreal and a 1-1 draw away to Real Madrid.
- Real Betis have won one and drawn one of their two LaLiga head-to-heads with Girona (W1, D1).
Girona and Betis to serve up a thriller at Montilivi
Real Betis have won 4, drawn 8 and lost 4 of their 16 away LaLiga matches this season, conceding an average of 1.38 goals per away match.
Girona FC have won 6, drawn 4 and lost 5 of their 15 home LaLiga matches, scoring an average of 1.13 and conceding 1.40 goals per home match.
Four months ago, the last LaLiga meeting between these two sides finished 1-1 at Estadio Benito Villamarín and a similar outcome is expected on Tuesday. Real Betis have fared better against Girona recently, winning one and drawing one of the two head-to-head meetings between the clubs, but Betis are coming into this game in poor form, winless in their last 5 (D3, L2), while Girona come into this fixture in decent form, unbeaten in their last 3 (W2, D1).
Betis’ build-up vs Girona’s build-up
The home side’s pressing system is very aggressive, with a high defensive line and a narrow midfield overloading. Michel has instilled a 4-3-3 system that is very high-octane, with Girona’s ability to transition into attack and the midfield’s ability to make second-wave runs, making them a dangerous side on home soil.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis are calmer in build-up play and prefer to maintain possession in the wide areas, stretching the play by bringing their full-backs into play. With the ball wide, Betis look to overload the middle of the pitch in the second wave and have a No.10 who is very capable of playing the killer pass into the box.
Vladyslav Vanat has the ability to win games
Girona FC’s top scorer, Ukrainian winger Vladyslav Vanat, has scored 9 goals in 27 LaLiga appearances this season. Betis’ top scorer, Juan Hernandez, has scored 8 times in 26 appearances and provides Betis with a consistent presence in the final third.
This will be a tactical battle between two very different styles of football, with the ability to control the midfield and win second ball duels most likely determining which style of play is most effective. Real Betis are the team more likely to edge this contest on the road, as they have done in 1 of their last 2 meetings with Girona. However, we expect a high-scoring affair on Tuesday, with both teams looking to exploit the weaknesses in the other’s build-up system.
Real Betis win at 37/20, Over 2.5 goals at 93/100 and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 63/100 are the recommended bets for Tuesday’s LaLiga clash between two teams separated by 7 places in the table, with Betis in 5th with 46 points from 31 matches and Girona FC in 12th with 38 from 31 games. Betis are still in the hunt for Europe, while Girona are in their best run of form since the winter break and should be confident of getting another positive result at Montilivi.
