Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid 22/12/19

22 December 2019

Real Betis and Atletico Madrid will face off at the Estadio Benito Villamarín this weekend in a match that promises a very few goals. All four of their previous La Liga (LL) H2H meetings have featured under 1.5 goals, with Atletico running away 1-0 winners twice across those clashes (W2, D1, L1).

Only two of Betis’ last nine LL matches have ended in a stalemate (W4, D2, L3), with each of their results (win/loss) in that sequence coming via a single-goal margin. Interestingly, all five of their previous league fixtures have featured three or more goals and witnessed both teams score, with the Andalusian outfit opening the scoring on three of those occasions. What’s more, all nine of their LL home matches this season have seen both teams score, with six of them producing over 2.5 goals. Although they’ve won just once in their last 14 top-flight home H2Hs with Atletico (W1, D5, L8), Betis can draw inspiration from a solid home form this term. Los Verdiblancos have lost only twice on home turf so far (W5, D2, L2), with three of their five LL home wins seeing them come from behind to seal three points.

Meanwhile, the visitors are going through a tumultuous period, having picked up only one victory in their last four LL outings (W1, D2, L1), with all four of those matches featuring under 2.5 goals. Atletico’s game style is in sharp contrast to Betis’, with none of their eight LL road trips this season producing over 2.5 goals. In fact, only two of their 17 LL fixtures have featured three or more goals, with just six seeing both teams score. Toothless attack and airtight defense are the main reasons all five of Los Colchoneros’ last five LL away games have ended in a stalemate. Additionally, only two sides have scored fewer LL away goals than Atletico (6) so far, with Diego Simeone’s men netting over 1.5 goals per away LL fixture just once to date.