Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao will face off tonight at the Benito Villamarín Stadium in Seville, with both teams fielding strong lineups for this crucial La Liga encounter. The match kicks off at 20:00 BST, with Betis aiming to extend their unbeaten home run while Bilbao seeks to climb the table.
Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has named an attacking lineup, with Nabil Fekir leading the line supported by Borja Iglesias and Ayoze Pérez. The home side’s defence will be anchored by Marc Bartra, with veteran Claudia Bravo in goal. Bilbao’s Gaizka Garitano has opted for a more cautious approach, deploying a 4-4-2 formation with Inaki Williams and Raúl García forming the strike partnership. Yeray Álvarez and Iñigo Martínez will marshal the defence, while Unai Simón starts in goal. Both teams have key players available after recovering from recent injuries, adding extra spice to this mid-table clash.
Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao announce starting lineups
Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao have announced their starting lineups for tonight’s highly anticipated La Liga clash at the Benito Villamarín Stadium. Both teams are fielding strong sides, with key players returning from injury.
Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has opted for a 4-3-3 formation. The starting lineup includes goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, defenders Marc Bartra, Aissa Mandi, Víctor Ruiz, and Roberto León. Midfielders Sergio Canales, Guillermo Fernández, and Nabil Fekir will look to control the game’s tempo. Up front, the attack is led by Borja Iglesias, supported by Nabil Fekir and Joaquín.
Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, will line up in a 4-4-2 formation under manager Marcelino García Toral. Goalkeeper Unai Simón starts, with Yeray Álvarez, Iñigo Martínez, Iñigo Lekue, and Yuri Berchiche in defence. The midfield features Dani García, Mikel Vesga, Unai López, and Óscar de Marcos. The strike partnership consists of Iñaki Williams and Raúl García.
Both teams have made strategic decisions with their lineups. Pellegrini’s inclusion of Joaquín adds experience to the attack, while Marcelino has chosen a balanced midfield to control possession. The match promises to be a tactical battle, with both managers setting up to exploit the opposition’s weaknesses.
Fans can expect an intense encounter as both teams push for a victory. The starting lineups reflect the importance of the match, with key players starting for both sides. The game kicks off at 21:00 CET, with live coverage available on various sports channels.
Tonight's clash at Benito Villamarín Stadium
Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao have announced their starting lineups for tonight’s highly anticipated clash at Benito Villamarín Stadium. The home side will be led by captain Joaquín, with the experienced midfielder starting his 400th La Liga game. Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, have opted for a familiar 4-4-2 formation, with Iñaki Williams leading the line.
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo starts for Betis, with the former Barcelona shot-stopper aiming to keep a clean sheet against his former club’s Basque rivals. The defence features full-backs Emerson Royal and Alex Moreno, with the latter having scored twice in his last three appearances. The centre-back pairing of Marc Bartra and Víctor Ruiz provides a mix of experience and physicality.
In midfield, Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has selected a balanced lineup, with Nabil Fekir and William Carvalho providing creativity and defensive cover. The attacking trio of Borja Iglesias, Joaquín, and Ayoze Pérez will look to trouble the Athletic Bilbao defence with their pace and movement.
Athletic Bilbao manager Gaizka Garitano has named a strong starting eleven, with Unai Simón in goal and Yeray Álvarez and Iñigo Martínez forming a solid defensive partnership. The midfield features the energetic combination of Dani García, Mikel Vesga, and Óscar de Marcos, with the latter having scored three goals this season.
The Basque side’s attack is spearheaded by Iñaki Williams and Raúl García, with the latter having netted five goals in his last eight appearances. Both teams will be eager to secure all three points, with the winner moving into the top six of the La Liga table. Kick-off is at 21:00 CET, with the match being broadcast live on LaLiga TV.
Key players to watch in the Basque Country derby
Real Betis will be without key midfielder Nabil Fekir for tonight’s clash against Athletic Bilbao. The Frenchman picked up a thigh injury during last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid. Manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed Fekir’s absence but remained optimistic about his recovery timeline.
Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, will have their full squad available for selection. Manager Ernesto Valverde has no fresh injury concerns following last week’s 1-0 win over Eibar. The Basque side are expected to stick with the same starting eleven that secured victory in their last outing.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón will be crucial for Athletic Bilbao. The 23-year-old has kept three clean sheets in his last five La Liga appearances. His solid performances have contributed significantly to Athletic’s recent defensive resilience.
For Real Betis, forward Borja Iglesias will be a key figure. The Spaniard has scored four goals in his last five league matches. His form in front of goal will be vital if Betis are to break down Athletic’s defence.
Midfielder Dani García will be central to Athletic Bilbao’s plans. The 25-year-old has been instrumental in both attack and defence this season. His ability to control the tempo of the game will be crucial against Betis’ energetic midfield.
Real Betis’ defensive duo of Marc Bartra and Víctor Ruiz will need to be at their best. The pair have formed a solid partnership this season, conceding just six goals in their last eight matches. Their experience will be tested against Athletic’s physical forwards.
Recent form and head-to-head statistics
Real Betis enters tonight’s clash with Athletic Bilbao in strong form, boasting three consecutive victories. The Seville-based side secured a 2-1 win against Real Sociedad last weekend, with Nabil Fekir and Borja Iglesias finding the net. Manager Manuel Pellegrini has maintained a consistent starting XI, with only minor rotational changes expected.
Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, arrive at the Benito Villamarín Stadium on the back of a 1-1 draw with Getafe. The Basque side has struggled for consistency, with just one win in their last five matches. Manager Marcelino García Toral faces a selection dilemma, with injuries to key players complicating his lineup decisions.
In head-to-head encounters, Real Betis holds a slight edge, with six wins to Athletic Bilbao’s five in their last 20 meetings. The most recent encounter, in January 2023, ended in a 1-1 draw. Both teams have scored in six of their last ten meetings, with an average of 2.8 goals per game.
Pellegrini has confirmed that Sergio Canales and Aitor Ruibal are unavailable due to injury. “We’ll miss their creativity and energy,” he stated in his pre-match press conference. Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, will be without Iñaki Williams and Óscar de Marcos, with Marcelino hopeful of their return next week.
Tactical approaches and team news
Real Betis will be without key midfielder Nabil Fekir for tonight’s clash against Athletic Bilbao. The Frenchman picked up a muscle injury during training and will miss the game, manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed yesterday.
Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, welcome back full-back Yuri Berchiche from suspension. The Spanish international serves the final game of his three-match ban, having been sent off in their last league outing against Real Sociedad.
Pellegrini has opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with veteran Sergio Canales starting in midfield alongside Guardiola and William Carvalho. Up front, Borja Iglesias leads the line, supported by winger Ayoze Pérez and left-back Alex Moreno.
Athletic Bilbao manager Gaizka Garitano has named an unchanged side from their last league game, a 2-0 win over Eibar. In-form striker Inaki Williams starts once again, looking to add to his impressive tally of 12 goals this season.
Both teams have made just one change to their respective squads from their last league outings. Betis welcome back right-back Emerson Royal from injury, while Athletic Bilbao’s Iñaki Williams returns from suspension.
The match kicks off at 20:00 GMT at the Benito Villamarín Stadium in Seville. The home side will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions, while Athletic Bilbao aim to secure a third consecutive away win.
As the final whistle blows on the Real Betis vs Athletic Bilbao clash, all eyes will be on the league table. The outcome could significantly impact both teams’ European ambitions, with just a handful of matches remaining in La Liga. While Betis looks to solidify their mid-table position, Bilbao will be pushing for a top-six finish. The result may also influence the tactical approaches of both managers in their upcoming fixtures. For now, though, the focus remains on the drama that unfolded on the pitch tonight.
