La Liga Preview: Real Betis - Sevilla

La Liga is warming up for the craziest exhibition of football passion Spain has to offer, with derby of Seville.

The Real El Derbi

From the outside looking in, La Liga’s most passionate match of the calendar – the real meeting of opposing identities – is seen unquestionably as the clash of the titans that is Real Madrid and Barcelona. We all know it isn’t a real derby, more of an international match in symbolic terms, but it means more than many of the ‘real’ derbies……apart from this one.

With Sevilla very much exuding the persona of the better end of the fun loving city, the Beticos revel in putting one over on their hated rivals as the working class club, or veritable paupers of the town. Of course, both splash the cash to similar levels these days, but recent histories could not be more contrasting.

These fixtures have got in the news for all the wrong reasons recently, marred by crown misbehaviour, violence, as well as bizarre logistical and technical problems, such as failing flood lights.

This season, the hosts have more than enough to be concerned with on the field, while Sevilla have begun their campaign relatively well after major changes in the summer

Divided Fortunes, Brewing Troubles

Real Betis are probably now unrivalled holders of the unwanted title of Spain’s worst run club.

Atletico Madrid were in the same ball park, but have finally got their act together. The in-fighting and politics at Valencia has ensured rank underachievement for so much of it’s history, while both Barca and Real have sporadically challenged for that title in recent years. But the Beticos are a terminal case, much to the amusement of uptown rivals Sevilla, who have enjoyed something of a renaissance in the last five years after time yo-yoing between La Liga and the Segunda.

Los Pepinos have not managed a league win since April, and coach Paco Chaparro knows all too well that his employers are renowned for whipping managers in and out of office no sooner than the ink is dry on the contract.

As per usual, the club has plenty of quality in its ranks, but forming a competitive team is proving a struggle. So far, a home defeat to Recre followed by a fortunate point at Getafe is likely to fill some of the beleaguered Betis faithful with a feeling of impending doom, such has been the unruly, heart-stopping nature of recent tumbles in form, ensuring the club fights off the threat of relegation on a regular basis.

The real problem for Betis is that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal follow this derby test, so it could be a long Autumn for Chaparro, which he will hope to see out.

Manuel Jimenez, on the other hand, has had a fairly solid start in results terms. The manner of the 4-3 home win over newly promoted Sporting Gijon will have undoubtedly raised concerns over the defence, though Mate Bilic’s hat-trick for the visitors had a large slice of fortune attached to it. Still, it was hardly convincing, but it will take time for a host of new faces at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to settle.

It’s set to be a cracking encounter, not least because of some mounting pressure on Chaparro. Sevilla president Del Nido has already spoke of the motivation he wants to see in the players for the trip downtown, while Betis forward Sergio Garcia has stoked the flames by stating Los Blanquirrojos are not as strong as last season.

With any luck, it will be all about the football and the very unique passion that accompanies this fixture, rather than an exhibition of some of the darker aspects of the Spanish game.

FORM GUIDE

Betis

DREW 0-0 (A) Getafe (14 Sept – La Liga)
LOST 1-0 (H) Recreativo de Huelva (Sept 1 - La Liga)
LOST 3-0 (A) Almeria (Aug 23 Friendly)
WON 3-0 (A) Elche (Aug 16 - Friendly)
LOST 2-1 (A) Málaga (Aug 9 - Friendly)

Sevilla

WON 2-0 (H)Salzburg (18 Sept – UEFA Cup 1st round 1st leg)
WON 4-3 (H) Sporting Gijon (13 Sept – La Liga)
DREW 1-1 (A) Racing Santander (31 Aug - La Liga)
WON 2-0 (H) Malaga (23 Aug - Friendly)
WON 3-0 (A) Cadiz (16 Aug - Friendly)


TEAM NEWS

Betis

Paco Chaparro has apparently settled on a set-up for this weekend, while he certainly has plenty of options. Pavone should lead the line up front, supported by Garcia and Gonzalez on the flanks.A three man midfield will likely be anchored by the returning Aurelio, which could see Arzu deployed at centre-back in place of Melli.


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