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5 bold La Liga predictions: Real Betis find scoring touch

By Benjamin Barkworth

GETAFE, SPAIN - OCTOBER 28: Hector Junior of Real Betis Balompie in action during the La Liga match between Getafe CF and Real Betis Balompie at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on October 28, 2018 in Getafe, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
GETAFE, SPAIN - OCTOBER 28: Hector Junior of Real Betis Balompie in action during the La Liga match between Getafe CF and Real Betis Balompie at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on October 28, 2018 in Getafe, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /
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VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN – OCTOBER 28: Pablo Fornals of Villarreal CF duels for the ball with Ruben Duarte of Deportivo Alaves during the La Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Villarreal CF at Estadio de Mendizorroza on October 28, 2018 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN – OCTOBER 28: Pablo Fornals of Villarreal CF duels for the ball with Ruben Duarte of Deportivo Alaves during the La Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Villarreal CF at Estadio de Mendizorroza on October 28, 2018 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) /

3. Villarreal snap winless run

Villarreal’s results make for grim reading for a side aiming to finish in a Champions League spots. They’ve only won twice in the league and already have five losses. Their record in the Europa League is more promising — they’re unbeaten with two draws as well as a 5-0 win against Rapid Vienna, although that confidence in front of goal is yet to translate to the league.

Levante are up next, an ideal opponent as the Villarreal hope to snap their four-game winless run. Levante have the worst defense in the league, according to Understat’s xGA model, with a mark of 19.44. They’re overperforming in this regard, having conceded 15 goals, though only three teams have allowed fewer.

Conceding so many chances to a team of Villarreal’s quality should only mean one outcome, even though they’re having trouble finishing. Villarreal have an xG of 14.12, fifth in the league. However, they’ve only scored eight goals, with Gerard Moreno and Karl Toko Ekambi the top scorers with two goals each.

Levante could give Villarreal, and Javier Calleja, a lifeline. He needs one of his strikers to start firing if they’re to build a run of form. Moreno has been a disappointment so far considering his experience in the league and how pivotal he was in keeping Espanyol up last season.

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