Betis Aim to Stretch Lead in Fifth Race at Getafe – Betis Showdown
Sunday at 3: 00 p. m. ET, Real Betis travels to the Coliseum for Getafe – Betis, a fixture where a victory would let Betis pull clear in the fight for fifth. The timing is decisive: dropped points by Celta, Real Sociedad and Athletic mean a Betis win creates concrete gaps in the standings.
Getafe – Betis: Pellegrini rotates, Bordalás restores Djené and Abqar
Manuel Pellegrini will make seven changes to his starting XI from the 2-2 draw with Sevilla, keeping only goalkeeper Álvaro Valles, forwards ‘Cucho’ Hernández and Ez Abde and midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo in the retained line-up. The revised Betis eleven named for the trip includes Ángel Ortiz, Marc Bartra, Valentín Gómez, Júnior Firpo, ‘Chimy’ Ávila, Sergi Altimira and Nelson Deossa.
José Bordalás brings back Djené Dakonam after a one-match suspension and places Abdel Abqar in the squad, making adjustments to the Getafe eleven that will start at the Coliseum. Getafe’s confirmed line-up lists David Soria in goal with Kiko Femenía, Duarte, Abqar and Juan Iglesias in defense; Milla, Djené and Arambarri in midfield; and Luis Vázquez and Satriano among the attackers.
Betis can widen gaps over Celta, Real Sociedad and Athletic with victory
A win for Betis would move them six points clear of Celta and eleven ahead of both Real Sociedad and Athletic, per the standings scenario outlined for this match. The same victory would stretch the margin to twelve over Osasuna after Osasuna’s late draw with Mallorca, and the final effect also depends on what Espanyol does on Monday.
Betis arrive having picked up eleven points in their last five league matches, while Getafe have collected ten over that same span, including a win at the Bernabéu this past Monday. For Betis, halting a run of two home draws at La Cartuja against Elche and Sevilla is central to turning recent form into a position of control in the race for fifth.
Recent patterns, absences and the Coliseum streak
Getafe have not beaten Betis at the Coliseum since September 2020, a stretch that underlines the historical difficulty for the hosts in this fixture. The two teams also face availability issues: Getafe are missing Abu Kamara and Davinchi through injury and Liso through suspension, while Pellegrini does not yet have Amrabat, Isco or Lo Celso back for Betis, with those players expected to return progressively after the upcoming break.
Both sides come into the match with players returning from suspension; Valentín Gómez is available for Betis after serving his ban in the previous round, and that reintegration could affect Betis’ selection at the fullback positions. Bordalás’ decision to reinstate Djené and Abqar shifts Getafe’s defensive profile compared with recent weeks.
Betis head next to a Europa League trip in Athens on Thursday at 3: 00 p. m. ET; if they leave the Coliseum with three points, Pellegrini is expected to preserve rotation options for that European return later in the week.
