The La Liga Matchday 20 fixture between Real Betis Balompie and Villarreal will take place on 17 January at the Olympic Stadium in Seville. Real Betis Balompie vs Villarreal: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Real Betis Balompie
The club’s last league match ended in an away draw against Real Oviedo (1:1), who sit 20th in the standings. As a result, Real Betis Balompie have gone without a win in their first two La Liga games of 2026. Earlier, the home side suffered a heavy defeat against Real Madrid (1:5). Overall, however, since the start of the current La Liga season, the team have lost only four times. Notably, Manuel Pellegrini’s men have been beaten exclusively by sides in the top eight. It is also worth noting that Real Betis Balompie share the title of the division’s biggest draw specialists, with eight of their 19 matches ending level. The team remain sixth in the league, five points short of the top five.
- Real Betis Balompie have scored in eight of their last nine La Liga matches.
- At least two goals have been scored in 16 of the club’s last 17 La Liga games.
- The Seville side have not conceded more than once in seven of their last nine matches in this competition.
Potential Real Betis Balompie Lineup (4-4-2)*
Alvaro Valles – Junior Firpo, Marc Bartra, Diego Gomez, Angel Ortiz – Giovani Lo Celso, Marc Roca, Pablo Fornals, Aitor Ruibal – Cucho Hernandez, Antony.
Midfielders Sofyan Amrabat and Abde Ezzalzouli continue to feature at the Africa Cup of Nations. Due to fitness issues, midfielder Isco, forward Cucho Hernandez and defender Junior Firpo will not be ready for the match.
Villarreal
It appears that the defeat to Barcelona at the end of last year did not unsettle the team at all. After seeing their winning run come to an end, Villarreal immediately started a new one. Following the league break, the club beat Elche and Alaves in succession, both by a 3:1 scoreline. That run has taken the visitors back into the top three and moved them three points clear of Atletico Madrid, with a game in hand. Across their last nine La Liga matches, Villarreal have recorded eight wins and that lone defeat — a home clash against Barcelona (0:2). It is also worth noting that this season the team have conceded just 17 goals in total, the best record in the division alongside Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
- The club have scored in six consecutive away matches in La Liga.
- Villarreal’s away run without a draw in this competition now stands at seven matches (five wins, two defeats).
- Since the start of the current La Liga campaign, the visitors have scored 37 goals in total — only two teams have more.
Potential Villarreal Lineup (4-4-2)*
Luis Junior – Juan Foyth, Alfonso Pedraza, Renato Veiga, Santiago Mourino – Tajon Buchanan, Daniel Parejo, Santi Comesana, Alberto Moleiro – Ayoze Perez, Georges Mikautadze.
Midfielders Pape Gueye and Ilias Akhomach are unavailable due to their involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations. Because of injuries, defenders Logan Costa and Willy Kambwala, as well as forward Pau Cabanes, will not be able to help the team.
Referee
Victor Garcia (Spain)
Matches – 10 (La Liga, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 27;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.7;
Red cards shown – 0;
Fouls per match on average – 22;
Penalties – 10%.
Real Betis Balompie vs Villarreal: Match Prediction
Real Betis Balompie remain as inconsistent as ever. On the one hand, the club have lost only four of their 19 matches in the first half of the La Liga season. Moreover, the home side have been beaten exclusively by teams representing Spain in the Champions League. At the same time, however, the squad have recorded too many draws — even more than wins. Over their last eight La Liga fixtures, Real Betis Balompie have beaten only Getafe and Sevilla, both of whom are in the bottom half of the table.
Villarreal, meanwhile, look far more convincing. After the league break, the visitors have continued to impress with their consistency and are rightly holding their place among the leading pack. The team have won eight of their last nine La Liga matches, with the only slip-up during that run coming in a December showdown against an irresistible Barcelona (0:2). Even on the road, the away side have stumbled in just one of their last six La Liga games, and their current winning streak stands at four matches.
We should also add that Villarreal have avoided defeat in at least five of the last six head-to-head meetings at Real Betis Balompie’s ground in La Liga (four wins, one draw).
Prediction: Villarreal, double chance
* For each team, the starting line-up from their previous match in this competition is shown.
