Manuel Pellegrino’s Real Betis, one of the most praised teams in Europe, hosts Mallorca in a special duel in La Liga.
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The Real Betisthird in La Liga Santander and in a formidable moment of form, receives this Sunday the Royal Majorca in a duel with conflicting objectives, as the verdiblancos seek to consolidate themselves in Champions League positions and the vermilion, fifteenth, move away from the relegation zone.
Chilean Manuel Pellegrini’s team, after beating Zenit in Russia on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32, he wants to flee from oversights or confidences and focus again on La Liga to chain their second league win and the fourth between Copa (1-2 against Rayo), the continental competition (2-3 in Saint Petersburg) and the national one (2-4 against Levante).
The Verdiblancos, very powerful in attack and super effective against the goal, are in a great moment of play and results, they are the second highest scorer in the League with 45 goals, six of the 51 led by the leader, Real Madrid, and now they face the challenge of prolonging their state of grace at home against a difficult rival, Mallorca, despite their qualifying troubles.
Betis, with an offensive game praised by all, is lethal in attack, as evidenced by its 21 goals scored since mid-January, just after eliminating Sevilla in the Cup, since then it has scored 21 goals in its last 7 games and was only left without ‘wetting’ in their defeat two days ago against Villarreal (0-2).
The objective, therefore, is clear for the troops of Pellegrini: keep the intensity in defense, the good play in the creation zones and the great punch up front to consolidate his third place in LaLiga and endorse his aspiration to play again for Europe and, in the current situation, see a qualification for the Champions League closer.
The Chilean coach recovers midfielder Sergio Canales to receive Mallorca, reincorporated on Friday to work with the group after overcoming COVID-19 and who could return to the eleven along with another of the most decisive men in the Betic scheme, Frenchman Nabil Fekir , rested by not playing in Europe due to suspension.
Pellegrini will continue the rotations that are giving him such good results, with Bellerín, Bartra and perhaps Víctor Ruiz and Miranda in defense, the latter to give Álex Moreno a break in a great moment; the continuity of the Argentine Guido Rodríguez in the middle with the Portuguese William Carvalho, who only played a few minutes in Russia; and Canales, Fekir and Juanmi further up along with Borja Iglesias, a substitute against Zenit.
Mallorca will present themselves at the Benito Villamarín stadium against Real Betis with the aim of giving the surprise and linking their third consecutive victory in LaLiga, after defeating Cádiz and Athletic Club, which would also be the third of the season as a visitor.
The Balearic team has only won at Deportivo Alavés and Atlético de Madrid after 11 outings, with 7 losses, 2 draws and two wins; of 36 points in away games, he has added 8.
The latest results have restored optimism in the ranks of the vermilion team in order to ensure permanence.
Six points away from the relegation zone, they can even increase that income if they defeat Real Sociedad on March 2 in the postponed match that will be played in Son Moix.
One of the footballers who has revolutionized the team is Vedat Muriqi (on loan from Lazio), reinforcement of the winter market together with the Spanish goalkeeper Sergio Rico (PSG) and the Uruguayan Giovanni González (Peñarol de Montevideo).
The Kosovar striker is imposing his height (he measures 1.94 meters) in the rival areas where he wins many duels, and in a few weeks he has become the great idol of the fans.
He scored from a penalty in the win (2-1) against Cádiz and contributed decisively to the three goals in the victory (3-2) against Athletic.
The coach Luis García Plaza will not be able to count on the defender Brian Oliván due to the accumulation of bookings, nor the Ghanaian midfielder Baba Idrissu, injured, but he recovers the Nigerian Amath Ndiayé once the sanction that prevented him from playing against Athletic has been completed.
State that the match will be played from 2:30 p.m.
Likely lineups
Betis: Rui Silva; Bellerín, Bartra, Víctor Ruiz, Miranda or Álex Moreno; Guido Rodriguez, William Carvalho; Channels, Fekir, Juanmi; Borgia Iglesias.
Mallorca: Sergio Rich; Maffeo, Raillo, Valjent, Jaume Costa; Take Kubo, Ruiz de Galarreta, Salva Sevilla, Dani Rodríguez; Angel, Muriqi.
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