Villarreal – Real Betis: Stalemate To Remain Near The Top (2-2)

A traditional clash between two contenders over the European spots ended with points sharing. The Submarines capitalized on the central overloads to work the ball out through the block, whereas Real Betis relied on wide baiting to generate space behind.

Tactical analysis and match report by Achraf Lamdarhri.

The Villarreal game against Real Betis held a significant place for Marcelino, as he became the manager with the most official games in Villarreal's history, with 260 matches. That saw him surpass Villarreal's former manager, and now, who takes over Real Betis, Manuel Pellegrini. Before the clash, Villarreal kept a clean balance out of home defeats in eleven straight games since April 2025. Moreover, they clung to three wins out of their four outings, with a single loss against Real Madrid before the international break. The Submarines' attack is on fire, as they have found the back of the net on sixteen occasions.

Since their defeat in August against Athletic Club, Real Betis have built momentum with six unbeaten matches. In addition, Manuel Pellegrini's team boasted a strong record in away games, wherein Real Betis are still unbowed in five fixtures far from home. With Pellegrini, the club became a mainstay among the teams that qualify regularly for European competitions. The Green and Whites arrive at the clash with Isco as the main absentee. The Spanish midfielder suffered a non-displaced ankle fracture in a pre-season friendly against Malaga.

Manuel Pellegrini entered the game with Natan and Valentín Gómez at the heart of the defense, with Héctor Bellerín as a right back and Junior Firpo as a left . . .