Real Betis will wrap up their 2024-25 La Liga campaign when they welcome Valencia to the Benito Villamarin on Friday.
Los Verdiblancos are guaranteed to finish the season in sixth spot, while visitors will head into matchday 38 in 12th position.
Match preview
Betis have ultimately fallen short of Champions League qualification after taking just two points from their previous three league matches.
Manuel Pellegrini‘s side had to settle for a draw with Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano, before a heavy 4-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid quashed their lingering hopes of a top-five finish.
However, Betis will be satisfied with the fact that they have secured a top-six finish for the fourth time in five seasons, clinching Europa League football for the 2025-26 campaign.
Rather than the Europa League, their current focus will be on next Wednesday’s Conference League final against Chelsea in Poland, with Los Verdiblancos dreaming of winning their first-ever European trophy.
Betis’ final appearance is why their final league game has been moved to Friday evening, giving them an extra 48 hours to prepare than their Premier League opponents, a move that has drawn the ire of Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who has said he is “not happy” about the situation.
Los Verdiblancos may fancy their chances of building confidence ahead of the showdown in Poland, having won three of their previous five home La Liga meetings with Valencia (D2), including a commanding 3-0 victory in last season’s meeting at the Benito Villamarin.
Valencia are out of the race for European football after back-to-back defeats quashed their hopes of a top-eight finish.
Their 10-game unbeaten run was ended by a narrow 1-0 loss to Alaves, before they suffered a repeat of that scoreline in Sunday’s meeting with Athletic Bilbao following Gorka Guruzeta‘s second-half effort.
However, the last two results do not detract from the remarkable job Carlos Corberan has done since he took over the reins at the start of 2025, having guided a team that were four points adrift from safety to the security of 12th spot.
Having collected 45 points from 37 matches, Valencia are one point adrift of Real Sociedad in 11th place and two points away from Mallorca in 12th position, meaning they could still achieve a top-half finish for the third time in four seasons.
Los Che are looking to complete a league double over Real Betis after cruising to a 4-2 victory in November’s home fixture, thanks to a Hugo Duro brace and goals from Cesar Tarrega and Diego Lopez.
If they are to achieve a league double, Valencia will have to beat Betis in a La Liga game at the Benito Villamarin for the first time since picking up a narrow 2-1 win in April 2019.
Team News
Betis are unable to call upon the injured quartet of Hector Bellerin, Diego Llorente, Marc Roca and Chimy Avila.
There are also doubts surrounding the availability of Youssouf Sabaly, Johnny Cardoso and Francisco Vieites.
Pellegrini is likely to rest a number of key players like Isco and Antony ahead of next week’s Conference League final against Chelsea.
William Carvalho and Cucho Hernandez could be among the starters because the pair are not registered to feature in the Conference League.
As for the visitors, they remain without long-term absentee Thierry Correia, while Lopez will have to be assessed after he was forced off at the weekend with a hamstring issue.
Defender Dimitri Foulquier is also a doubt for Friday’s fixture after sitting out the last two matches due to illness.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to play his final game for Valencia, before he officially joins Premier League champions Liverpool in the summer window.
Ivan Jaime could come into the side if Lopez is unable to feature, while Duro is set to return to the starting lineup, with the striker looking to add to his 11-goal league tally.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Adrian, Ortiz, Bartra, Mendy, Perraud; Carvalho, Altimira; Abde, Lo Celso, Rodriguez; Cucho
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Mosquera, Diakhaby, Tarrega, Gaya; Rioja, Barrenechea, Guerra, Jaime; Almeida, Duro
We say: Real Betis 1-1 Valencia
Betis will be looking to build confidence ahead of the Conference League final, but with key players set to be rested, we think they may have to settle for a draw against a Valencia that have seen six of their previous 10 top-flight away games finish all square.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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