La Liga: Atletico Take Unbeaten Record to the Basque Country

Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid

As La Liga prepares for its first ‘Clasico’ of the season, a trip to the Basque country potentially provides Atletico Madrid with the chance to make up some ground on the top two – Barcelona and champions Real Madrid.

Atletico remain unbeaten domestically this term so a trip to seventh placed Betis, while tough, is a hurdle they can overcome.

Yet they will know this is a tough test against a side managed by the astute Manuel Pellegrini.

Talking Points

Both sides were in European action in midweek with rather disappointing results.

In the Champions League, an early goal from Julian Alvarez put Atletico in front but they were forced back by a Lille side which had beaten their city rivals Real a few weeks earlier.

The Ligue 1 club levelled through Edon Zhegrova before a controversial penalty, converted by substitute Jonathan David, allowed them to take the lead.

It was the Canadian marksman that struck again in the closing moments to secure a 3-1 victory and leave Atletico needing a positive result when they travel to fellow French side Paris St Germain on November 6.

Twenty four hours later and Betis’ disappointing start to their Europa Conference League campaign continued, as they were held at home by FC Copenhagen.

Ez Abde scored the opener inside 10 minutes but Kevin Dijks’ late penalty meant that it was a share of the spoils at the Benito Villamarin.

Those results came just a few days after both clubs enjoyed some La Liga highlights of their own.

Real Betis intend to exploit their home advantage when they face Atletico Madrid in La Liga — Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini looks on before the La Liga match against Girona at the Benito Villamarin stadium

Betis won 2-1 at Osasuna, despite a last minute dismissal of centre back Natan, to make it four wins and three draws from their opening 10 league games.

As well as Natan, the hosts will be without the services of four players through injury on Sunday with ex-Spurs man Giovani Lo Celso, Marc Roca, William Carvalho and Isco unavailable.

The absence of the former is a blow considering he has netted five of his side’s 10 league goals to date.

It means Pellegrini will again be expected to favour a front two with Vitor Roque alongside Cedric Bakambu.

Atletico also have a few selection issues of their own to deal with.

Manager Diego Simeone won’t be able to call upon Clement Lenglet, Pablo Barrios, Marcos Llorente, Robin Le Normand or Cesar Azpilicueta.

That said, the Argentine head coach is unlikely to ring the changes given how well they have performed in the league to date, in contrast to their European setbacks which also include a 4-0 reverse at Benfica.

That will mean Antoine Griezmann, Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth spearheading the attack.

Griezmann and Sorloth were on target in a 3-1 win over Leganes last Sunday, but it wasn’t until the closing stages that they pulled through.

Sorloth’s close range finish tied the game before Griezmann slid the home side in front and the Norwegian added his second of the game in added time.

They will need to be more convincing if they are to upset Betis and the opening goal of what I think will be a tight contest could well prove crucial.

Since Simeone rode into town at Christmas 2011, Atletico has punched above its weight to the extent the club has become a genuine threat to the establishment.

An extra 48 hours to prepare for this game could prove the difference on Sunday teatime.

History

Atletico have very much held the upper hand in recent years.

Of their last 34 clashes, Betis have only tasted victory on four occasions with 22 Atletico triumphs and eight draws.

Atletico won this contest 2-1 last term when Rui Silva and Alvaro Morata scored the goals before William Carvalho pulled one back in the second half.

The match in the Basque country earlier in the season had ended goalless.

You have to go back to February 2019 – 11 games ago – for the last time Betis defeated Los Rojiblancos when Canales netted the only goal of the encounter.

It was in 2011 when Betis actually last won on Atletico turf, at their former Vicente Calderon stadium, as Alejandro Pozuelo and Roque Santa Cruz were on target in a 2-0 win.