Real Betis v Girona

Real Betis vs Girona Preview

Thursday evening also brings in the start of a new Spanish top flight season and features this upcoming clash between last season's seventh placed finishers Real Betis and surprise package Girona when the two teams kick-off at the Estadio Benito Villamarín with the hosts looking to further improve upon last season's seventh place finish, while Girona will have to juggle their La Liga campaign with Champions League participation this term.

Seventh place assured Real Betis a place in the play-off stage of this season's UEFA Conference League but their opponents are yet to be determined but in the meantime, Thursday night's hosts will be looking to produce a positive start to this new La Liga campaign.

Following a miserable sequence of four defeats on the trot in the Spanish top flight from early March through to the end of the same month which consisted of defeats at the hands of Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Rayo Vallecano and Girona, the latter being a 3-2 loss away from home, Real Betis turned things around towards the end of last season.

Indeed, the hosts ended up losing just once in their subsequent eight league matches whilst collecting four wins which saw Manuel Pellegrini's side pick up important wins against Celta Vigo, Valencia, Osasuna and Almeria respectively.

Girona proved to be the surprise package in last season's La Liga campaign as the unfancied underdogs found themselves sitting top of the domestic top flight table and giving the usual suspects of Real Madrid and Barcelona an early scare.

The visitors eventually ran out of steam as both Real Madrid and Barcelona not only caught them up but continued to sail past, finishing top and runners-up respectively although only four points separated Barcelona from third placed finishers Girona at the end of the campaign.

Girona had previously put together an impressive 15-game unbeaten sequence in La Liga from early October through to early February but they then suffered a downturn in form and results which saw them suffer five defeats in their subsequent eight games, with all five defeats within this period being inflicted upon Michel Sanchez's side on their travels with losses incurred at Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Mallorca, Getafe and Atletico Madrid.

Although Girona claimed a couple of wins on the road towards the end of last season with victories gained at Las Palmas and Valencia, the visitors only managed these two wins in their last eight outings on the road.

Real Betis v Girona Verdict

Real Betis have certainly held the upper hand over visitors Girona in previous exchanges as the hosts have lost just once in their last 12 meetings and Betis look the more likely for the three points in this season opener as well.

Therefore, our main bet will be Real Betis win @ 2.35

Other side bets worth considering:

Real Betis win & Under 2.5 goals @ 5.50

Correct Score: Real Betis 1-0 @ 8.50