The visitors are heading into the match on the back of an impressive 3-2 win over title-challengers Girona on Monday night, while the Green and Whites suffered a huge disappointment in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
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Athletic Bilbao will be bidding to extend their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions when they travel to Benito Villamarin to take on Real Betis in a La Liga fixture on Sunday. The visitors are heading into the match on the back of an impressive 3-2 win over title-challengers Girona on Monday night, while the Green and Whites suffered a huge disappointment in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, as they failed to progress to the last-16 stage courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Dinamo Zagreb in the second leg of their knockout round playoff tie, thereby losing 2-1 on aggregate.
🎙️ Ernesto Valverde previews #RealBetisAthletic
“It’s an important week for us, but we must go one step at a time. This match is motivating enough to need to be at 100 per cent.”#AthleticClub 🦁
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) February 24, 2024
Betis now only have La Liga to focus on for their remainder of the season, and they will be determined to secure a top six finish at the end of the campaign, and thereby ensure European football for next term. Manuel Pellegrini’s men are currently occupying seventh spot in the Spanish top flight standings, having collected 39 points from 25 games just a solitary point adrift of sixth-placed Real Sociedad, who have played a game more. Los Verdiblancos have recorded nine league-wins this season, and their last success came away to Cadiz on February 10. After that, Pellegrini’s men went on a three-games winless run in all competitions, losing out the two-legged Conference League tie versus Dinamo Zagreb, either side of a goalless league-draw with Alaves.
Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, have been in brilliant form in the last couple of weeks, not tasting defeat in their last six outings in all competitions, while winning four matches in the period. On Monday, the Lions got the better of second-placed Girona in a five-goal thriller thanks to Alejandro Berenguer Remiro’s brace and one effort from Inaki Williams. Ernesto Valverde’s men are currently sitting at the fifth spot in the La Liga Santander, with 49 points to their name from 25 outings, just two adrift of the top four. Moreover, Athletic Club have the fifth-best away-record in the top flight this season, picking up 17 points from 12 matches.
Real Betis probable starting lineup: Silva, Bellerin, Pezzella, Riad, Ruibal, Cardoso, Carvalho, Fornals, Fekir, Ezzalzouli, Willian Jose
Athletic Bilbao probable starting lineup: Simon, De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri, Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados, I Williams, Berenguer, N Williams, Guruzeta
Real Betis
| Opponents | Score |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 1-1 (D) |
| Alaves | 0-0 (D) |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 0-1 (L) |
| Cadiz | 0-2 (W) |
| Getafe | 1-1 (D) |
Athletic Bilbao
| Opponents | Score |
| Girona | 3-2 (W) |
| Almeria | 0-0 (D) |
| Atletico Madrid | 0-1 (W) |
| Mallorca | 4-0 (W) |
| Cadiz | 0-0 (D) |
| Last 5 match-results | Score |
| Athletic Bilbao beat Betis | 4-2 |
| Betis beat Athletic Bilbao | 0-1 |
| Betis draw Athletic Bilbao | 0-0 |
| Betis beat Athletic Bilbao | 1-0 |
| Athletic Bilbao beat Betis | 3-2 |
The La Liga fixture between Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao will take place at Benito Villamarin on Sunday at 8:45 pm IST.
| Real Betis vs Athletic Bilbao | Key Details |
| Date | February 25 |
| Venue | Benito Villamarin |
| Kickoff time in Spain | 3:15 pm |
| Kickoff time in India | 8:45 pm |
Football fans in India can live stream the game through Jio TV. Meanwhile, those in Spain can catch the live action via Movistar + and DAZN network.
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