Real Betis will look to shake off their recent slump and regain confidence ahead of their UEFA Conference League final showdown against Chelsea, as they host Valencia in the final round of the La Liga season. A resounding 4-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid last weekend confirmed Betis’ sixth-place finish, leaving Sunday’s clash at Estadio Benito Villamarín as a crucial dress rehearsal for their biggest game of the season.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side has gone three matches without a win (D2, L1) since sealing a place in the Conference League final, but their home form offers some encouragement. Betis are unbeaten in their last six home meetings with Valencia (W4, D2), and have secured seven victories from nine league matches at home against current bottom-half sides (D1, L1). With the final looming, Betis will hope to rediscover their sharpness and build some much-needed momentum.
Valencia, meanwhile, saw their hopes of European qualification dashed after consecutive 1-0 defeats, but a top-half finish remains within reach if they win and other results go their way. A victory would also complete a league double over Betis—something they haven’t achieved since the 2017/18 campaign—following a thrilling 4-2 triumph in the reverse fixture.
Despite missing out on continental football, Carlos Corberán’s impact since taking over in December has been notable. Only five teams have collected more points than Valencia (33) during his tenure (W9, D6, L5). However, their away form remains a significant weakness. With just two wins from 18 away games (D8, L8), Valencia have the third-worst away record in La Liga, and only one of those wins came against a side currently above them in the table.
Key players to watch include Betis midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso, who has opened the scoring four times this season—three of which came at home. All of his last four league goals have come after the break, making him a likely second-half threat. For Valencia, Hugo Duro may earn a recall after being benched last week. In the reverse fixture, he delivered a dramatic performance, scoring twice, assisting once, and even recording an own goal.
Hot Stat:
Only Barcelona (15) have scored first in more home games than Betis (13) this La Liga season, yet Betis failed to convert that advantage into wins on six occasions (W7, D4, L2).
With their European final just days away, Betis will be eager to send a statement. For Valencia, it’s a final chance to end a promising season under Corberán on a high.
