5 bold La Liga predictions: Real Betis find scoring touch

2. Betis win Celta thriller

Celta Vigo’s trip to face Betis on Sunday could be a hugely entertaining spectacle, pitting as it does two contrasting styles against one another: Antonio Mohamed’s proactive high pressing vs. Quique Setien’s possession-based system. The high-risk styles employed by both suggest that this could easily turn into a high-scoring affair.

Betis have been a surprise this season but not in a good way. After impressing last term, they’ve managed only five league goals so far. Their incisive passages of play have degenerated into sluggish moves which lack the sharpness to really test defenses. Their last match against Getafe was a prime example; they had nearly 70 percent possession, per WhoScored, but didn’t truly threaten and were punished on the break.

Celta’s attacking approach will suit Betis. The attackers will have plenty of space to work in if they’re able to play through or bypass the press in the buildup. The main issue they’ve had is breaking through well-disciplined, organized defensive shapes, so a wide-open game should suit them.

Last week, Celta won 4-0 over Eibar, a win that eased the pressure on Mohamed, who was starting to face questions over his future after a six-game winless run. However, their clinical attack could be on the wrong end of the result as Betis finally start firing. Regardless, this should be a great match for the neutral. It could also be the highlight of the week if Real somehow put their recent problems behind them and dispatch Valladolid comfortably, as unlikely as that is.