Osasuna V Real Betis
Friday 20th September 2019 – 20:00 Kick-Off
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 21/20
Bookmaker: BetVictor
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27/20 | 47/20 | 2/1 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 18th September 2019 at 12:15)
Preview: The first Spanish La Liga action of the weekend sends 15th-placed Real Betis (W1 D1 L2), who have improved to take four points from their last two league games, to the fortress that is El Sadar in Pamplona. It is the home of an Osasuna side currently in 9th, who have made an unbeaten start to the league campaign (W1 D3) and have not lost a league encounter on their own patch since April 2018.
Spanish La Liga Betting – 22Bet
Osasuna Preview – Home comforts to ensure Osasuna are not beaten?
It has been an impressive return to Spain’s top tier for Osasuna thus far. Los Rojillos (The Reds) are unbeaten after four rounds of matches – they are one of only four sides to achieve this feat – and while that streak did come close to ending last weekend when falling behind at Real Valladolid, a late equaliser from Roberto Ibanez was nothing less than they deserved on the balance of play (xG: VAL 0.85 – OSA 2.66).
That 1-1 draw in Valladolid does, however, mean they have now drawn each of their previous three league games. The other two were both earned at home: one a goalless encounter with Eibar, the other a 2-2 draw against the champions, Barcelona, who were a clear second best in proceedings (xG: OSA 2.09 – BAR 0.43).
It was also at home where Osasuna were a colossus in Spain’s second tier last season. Promoted as league champions, Jagoba Arrasate’s team would not suffer a single loss inside their El Sadar stadium in Pamplona (W19 D2). They would impressively win seventeen consecutive games at home, a run that was halted by Eibar upon returning to La Liga but it has still been an age since they were last defeated on their own patch – back in April 2018 (W21 D6).
Goals are often at a premium, though, when Osasuna are on hosting duties. 10 of the previous 13 such fixtures have returned two match goals or fewer, with Osasuna’s defensive resolve clearly on show in this sequence – they prevented the opposing team from scoring on eleven separate occasions, winning ten of those encounters to nil. Boylesports offer 16/5 on an Osasuna Win To Nil.
Real Betis Preview – Goals to continue to flow?
Whether it is a tag they want matters not, but Real Betis are staking an early claim to be La Liga’s most entertaining outfit. Every one of their encounters thus far has produced goals; just one of four failed to breach the two goals or more mark, although each would feature goals scored by both them and the opposing team. Positive news for BTTS backers.
All that will be of great concern for manager Rubi, who has watched his team collect only four points out of a possible twelve (W1 D1 L2). It is, however, a significant improvement on those early struggles, having initially begun with back-to-back losses versus Real Valladolid (1-2) and Barcelona (5-2).
Losing central midfielder William Carvalho is less positive, meanwhile, with the Portugal international now serving a suspension for his dismissal in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home with Getafe. That was also the second game in succession whereby Betis successfully responded to falling behind, coming from 1-0 down to prevail 2-1 at home to Leganes prior to the international break.
Carvalho’s presence in the middle of the park will be sorely missed here, which will be only Betis’ second away outing of the season since conceding five at the Nou Camp on Gameweek 2. To score twice in that latter contest, against Barcelona, does boost the appeal about them scoring in this game, even if an inability to keep goals out at the other end continues to plague them.
Osasuna V Real Betis Key Facts:
- Osasuna have not been beaten in their past 27 league games as the home team (W21 D6).
- Real Betis has seen all four of their La Liga matches in 2019-20 produce Both Teams to Score.
- The previous three La Liga meetings between the two were won by Real Betis. Meanwhile, each of the last three staged at Osasuna produced Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams to Score.
Betting Summary
Osasuna have quietly impressed in the early stages of La Liga. They’ve amassed six points from a four-game unbeaten start which culminated in a recent 1-1 draw away to Real Valladolid and is made all the more impressive by a 2-2 draw at home to Barcelona, which ought to have been a deserved victory for the team from Pamplona. No home defeat in a league fixture since April of 2018 is formidable.
Real Betis continue to provide entertainment for the neutrals. All four leagues game to date produced goals for both sides. The manager will be more concerned about a lack of wins however, and with the Andalusians more in need of the points on the back of an unconvincing start to the season (W1 D1 L2), that could leave them exposed at the back once more.
Games involving Osasuna tend to be stodgy, low-scoring affairs. They’re incredibly tough to beat on their own patch, that much is known, with even the mighty Barcelona put to the sword there. This Betis side are set up to create chances, though, and with their defending still alarmingly bad (they’ve averaged 1.70xGA this season) I feel there is actually some value, as well as logic, in backing goals.
