Real Betis will begin the new year with a trip to Galicia for Wednesday's La Liga clash against relegation-threatened Celta Vigo.
While the hosts are currently sitting two points adrift from safety, Los Verdiblancos occupy seventh place in the standings.
Match preview
Rafael Benitez has experienced a tough time in his first six months as Celta boss, having seen his side win two, draw seven and lose nine of their 18 league games.
Although they claimed the most recent of those victories in their previous home game against Granada, they were unable to back up that result in their away clash with Villarreal.
After conceding three goals before the 50-minute mark, Celta attempted to launch a fightback with goals from Anastasios Douvikas and Jorgen Strand Larsen, but they could not find the elusive equaliser, ensuring that their four-game unbeaten league run (W1, D3) came to an end.
Despite falling to an away defeat in their final match of the calendar year, Celta head into Wednesday's contest with the chance to claim consecutive home league victories for the first time since February/March 2023.
Os Celestes will certainly be encouraged by their recent head-to-head record, having won three of their last four meetings with Betis, including a narrow 1-0 win in last season's home clash.
Betis may have welcomed the short winter break after they claimed just one victory in their final seven competitive matches of 2023 (D4, L2), with that sole win taking place against fourth-tier Villanovense in the Copa del Rey.
Unfortunately for Betis, both of those two victories in that seven-game period took place in the Europa League, causing them to finish in third place and drop down to the Europa Conference League.
In contrast to their recent European results, Los Verdiblancos have proven to be a tough team to beat in La Liga, having put together a 13-game unbeaten league run since losing 5-0 to Barcelona in mid-September.
While they may have gone over three months without a league defeat, Betis will be frustrated with the fact their last four league games have finished all square, including their most recent outing against high-flying Girona.
They have also drawn each of their last six road trips in the league contributing to an eight-game winless away run in La Liga, leaving them without a top-flight away victory since beating Villarreal on the opening weekend of the season.
Team News
Celta defenders Carl Starfelt and Mihailo Ristic have joined Joseph Aidoo on the sidelines after the pair picked up injuries in the defeat to Villarreal in December.
Winger Jonathan Bamba has joined up with the Ivory Coast ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in his home country.
Iago Aspas is set to return to the starting lineup following a one-match suspension, while Jailson could feature in the matchday squad after joining on a free transfer from Palmeiras.
As for Betis, they are expected to be without Claudio Bravo, Hector Bellerin, Marc Bartra, Youssouf Sabaly, Guido Rodriguez and Nabil Fekir.
They are also unable to call upon defender Chadi Riad and winger Abde Ezzalzouli, who have both joined up with the Morocco squad to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Isco, who recently extended his contract until June 2027, will return to Manuel Pellegrini's starting lineup after serving a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Vazquez, C. Dominguez, Nunez, Sanchez; Mingueza, Dotor, Tapia, Cervi; Douvikas, Larsen
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Ruibal, Pezzella, Sokratis, Miranda; Altamira, Carvalho; Diao, Isco, Perez; Willian Jose
We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Real Betis
Betis have experienced four consecutive draws in the Spanish top flight, and we think that run could continue against a Celta Vigo side who have seen four of their last six home games finish all square.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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