La Liga Preview: Real Betis - Almeria

After another season of struggle a win at the weekend could ensure that Real Betis are playing in la Primera next term...

May 15, 2009 4:21:24 PM

More On :  Almeria, Betis, Betis vs Almeria
Sevilla-Betis (MARCA)
Kick Off - 17:00 CET - Sunday, May 17, 2009
Manuel Ruiz De Lopera, Seville

Real Betis must be despairing as they face yet another run-in wondering if they will be playing top flight football next term, just four seasons after appearing in the Champions League.

The Andalucian outfit won promotion back to la Primera in 2000-01 along with their city rivals Sevilla and the pair shrugged off their year in the second tier and began to challenge for the top spots.
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But while Sevilla were laying the groundwork for a sustained run of success, that saw them win five trophies and play in Europe regularly, Betis lurched from one problem to another.

Supporters looked to have had enough this week when a group went to the team's training ground at threw eggs at the players to register their disgust at recent performances.

Many fans point the finger at former president, majority shareholder and current chief behind the scenes, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, as the club has chosen poor coaches and bought and sold unwisely.

When Javier Irureta took over in 2006 the club had finished in 14th place, but were in the Champions League and had a platform upon which to build, but that was when the mistakes began to happen.

Joaquin had been watched by major clubs for several seasons and it was no surprise that he left, but it was not expected that Valencia would be the club that would win his signature when such luminaries as Chelsea and Real Madrid were interested.

Irureta had been promised that only one of the two star names at the club would sold, but when Ricardo Oliveira was allowed to go to AC Milan, things began to go downhill and have not yet recovered.

Home Win

Betis have signed a host of players, but none have been good enough or inspirational enough to lift the team back by themselves and a string of beleaguered coaches have failed to inspire.

Paco Chaparro was thought to be the man to lift the team back up after saving them at the end of last term, but results went against him and now Josep María Nogués has been given the task of repeating the trick.

In the last three season, Betis have finished 14th, 16th and 13th and had worries about their top flight status in each of them and this season is no different as they currently sit two places and three points above the bottom three.

Three wins at home is one key reason why they are struggling and one reason why there is not much optimism as Almeria visit this weekend looking to plunge the hosts even further into the mire.

Fortunately for Betis, the teams in the relegation zone would all have to win at least once from their last three games and twice should the Verdiblanco secure a victory.

Almeria cannot not reach Europe and cannot go down, but Hugo Sanchez will be pleased with his first few months at the helm and will be looking to the summer to bolster his squad and mould the team to be his own.

Betis may have a poor home record, but it is still better than their guests' on the road with the visitors this weekend having secured just two victories from 17 away matches this term.

If they do not then they may have to bolster security to stop the egg-throwers or rebook the Algarve complex they retreated to to avoid any more aggravated fans.

RECENT FORM

Real Betis

09/05 A 0-1 Athletic Club
03/05 H 0-2 Atletico de Madrid
26/04 A 0-2 Espanyol
22/04 H 1-2 Valencia
19/04 H 2-0 Sporting de Gijon
12/04 A 3-2 Racing Santander

Almeria

10/05 H 3-1 Sporting de Gijon
04/05 A 2-0 Racing Santander
25/04 H 2-1 Numancia
22/04 A 0-2 Deportivo
19/04 H 2-1 Osasuna
12/04 A 0-2 Real Mallorca

TEAM NEWS

Real Betis

Capi and Sergio Garcia are back in action although the coach will have to consider whether to play them as Edu, Emana, Mark Gonzalez and Oliveira have all impressed recently.

Probable Starting XI: Ricardo, Nelson, Melli, Juanito, Vega, Canas, Arzu, Damia, Emana, Edu, Oliveira

Almeria

Michel and Guilherme are set to start in defence in place of Bruno and Mane, while Corona and Carlos Garcia will not play with Juanito and Soriano stepping in.

Probable Starting XI: Esteban, Macedo, Solari, Pellerano, Guilherme, Juanito, Soriano, Ortiz, Uche, Nieto, Negredo

PREDICTION

Real Betis need a win and will be gearing up for what they will see as their cup final because three points in this encounter would see them scrape clear of the bottom three for another season. Almeria will put up some resistance, but with nothing to play for and a poor away record it seems unlikely they will be making it three victories.

Real Betis 2 - 0 Almeria

Lucas Brown, Goal.com
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