Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news and prediction | OneFootball

Just three days after the sides met in a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash, Atletico Madrid and Real Betis reconvene at the Wanda Metropolitano for Sunday’s La Liga clash.

Diego Simeone’s men ran out 5-0 winners in Thursday’s last-eight encounter to make it two wins from two against Betis this season, following a 2-0 triumph in October’s first league meeting.

Match preview

After ending January with a goalless stalemate against Levante, Atletico made a blistering start to February by thrashing Betis at Estadio de la Cartuja to reach the Copa del Rey last four.

New arrival Ademola Lookman wasted no time endearing himself to his new supporters, grabbing a goal and an assist to lead the onslaught for Los Colchoneros.

Having seen Barcelona ease past Mallorca on Saturday, Atletico now seek to close the gap on the league leaders back to 10 points and move six points clear of Villarreal in fourth before the Yellow Submarines take to the field.

Only city rivals Real Madrid have picked up more points at home than Sunday’s hosts, who have only been denied maximum points in league action once so far.

While Atleti will surely have one eye on their upcoming cup semi-final against Barcelona on Thursday, they will need to set the tone with a dominant display this weekend.

Betis’ drubbing at the hands of Atletico last time out saw them lose in front of their fans for the first time since early December and also snapped a run of consecutive victories over Feyenoord and Alaves.

With little time to dwell on a humiliating defeat, Manuel Pellegrini’s men will need to pick themselves up as soon as possible.

Los Heliopolitanos have won just two of their 11 away league matches this campaign, highlighting the size of the task lying in wait if they are to emerge victorious in the Spanish capital.

Betis are currently fifth in the La Liga table, but a defeat on Sunday could see them drop to sixth should Espanyol get the job done in their matchday 23 assignment.

Team news

Johnny Cardoso is unavailable to face his former club, as the Atleti midfielder remains out with a muscle injury.

Despite playing 50 minutes in the home side’s most recent outing, Pablo Barrios will not feature on Sunday after suffering an injury, while Nico Gonzalez (back) is also sidelined.

Betis have a lengthy list of absentees with as many as six players currently ruled out.

Giovani Lo Celso, Hector Bellerin, Sofyan Amrabat, Isco, Cucho Hernandez and Chimy Avila are all nursing respective injury problems.

Atletico Madrid Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Mendoza, Koke, Baena; Lookman, Alvarez

Real Betis Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Valles; Rodriguez, Natan, Bartra, Ruibal; Roca, Altimira; Ezzalzouli, Fornals, Antony; Bakambu

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 3-1 Real Betis