Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis
Three days after they faced off in the Copa del Rey quarter-final, Atletico Madrid are back in action against Real Betis, this time at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The two teams met at the Benito Villamarin on Thursday night and it was frankly a bloodbath, as Los Rojiblancos plundered a 5-0 win. So…Los Verdiblancos may need some counselling before they face the Madrid monsters again so soon!
Back in the Primera Division, Diego Simeone’s Atletico are in third in the La Liga table, ten points off the lead and ten points ahead of fifth, where Real Betis currently sit. And while Manuel Pellegrini’s Verdiblancos are seven points behind Villarreal in fourth, they only have a two-point advantage over Celta Vigo in seventh.
Before the cup clash on Thursday, Atletico were winless in their last two games while Betis came into the Copa del Rey clash with back-to-back victories, but the tide has turned quite dramatically.
Talking Points
Lookman set to make La Liga debut
The signing of Ademola Lookman in a 40m Euros switch from Atalanta was the deal of the window and it typified a good window for Simeone as he strengthened his hand at the same time as raising funds on sales. The 28-year-old Lookman is in the prime of his career, having already starred in the Bundesliga, Premier League and latterly Serie A with La Dea. And now he is set to try his hand in the Primera Division.
Lookman has been agitating for a move and was upset that his proposed transfer to Inter Milan didn’t come off, but the Nigeria star is a happy man now he has arrived in Madrid and the club sees him as a natural replacement for Rojiblancos legend Antoine Griezmann. Like the France star, Lookman can play out on the left wing, as a second striker or as an advanced midfielder, and his flexibility is a boost to Simeone’s resources in the creative unit.
Both Lookman and Griezmann scored in the cup win on Thursday by the way.
With very quick feet and clever off the ball running Lookman will fit well into a front line which already boasts Griezmann, Julian Alvarez and Alex Baena, with Alexander Sorloth as a target man.
In addition, Atletico have signed two 20-year-old midfielders; the highly rated Rodri Mendoza from Elche in a 15m Euros deal, and Obed Vargas from Seattle Sounders. Meanwhile the departure of Conor Gallagher, to Tottenham Hotspur, and Rodrigo de Paul to Inter Miami has helped to balance the books.
A stuttering end to their Champions League group campaign has left Atleti in the play-off zone and, while the La Liga 2026 betting odds say this won’t be Atletico’s year, there is plenty for Los Rojiblancos to play for and their January dealings have strengthened their hand.
Betis need a league lift
With just two wins from their last five league games Los Verdiblancos have let Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad make up ground, and a poor result on Sunday could see Betis drop out of the top six. Victories over Feyenoord in the Europa League and Elche in the Copa del Rey have kept up the winning habit, but the bread and butter of league football comes first.
Pellegrini has been without some key players; wingback Junior Firpo has been out with a thigh strain, as has the experienced Isco, while midfield enforcer Sofyan Amrabat has been suffering with a foot injury.
Somehow Pellegrini must lift his players to face the team which has just slaughtered them on their home turf and he will rely on the defensive duo of Diego Llorente and Marc Bartra to hold back the Atleti tide.
Los Verdiblancos’s recent clash with top six rivals Villarreal was a prime example of what they can do to a top side, winning 2-0 and so there is no way on earth Atletico will expect another comfortable afternoon on Sunday.
History
Los Rojiblancos have bossed this relationship in many years with 28 wins to seven and there have been eight draws over the past 43 meetings.
At the Wanda Metropolitano, Atleti have won 15 of the last 21 encounters, drawing three and losing three. Last season this fixture produced a 4-1 win for Simeone’s men and when the two teams met at the Benito Villamarin in October Atleti won 2-0.
Atletico have won three, drawn two and lost one of the last six games in all competitions while Real Betis have won three and lost three. But in terms of La Liga 2026 results Los Rojiblancos have won four and drawn two of their last six league games, while Betis have won three, drawn one and lost two.
Betting Tip
Atletico are hot SBOTOP favourites at a price of 1.55 to win this clash, with Betis at 5.50 and the draw at 4.10 and I’m pretty sure Los Rojiblancos will win again…with goals flowing in as they did on Thursday.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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