Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Atletico Madrid will be aiming to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Sevilla when they take on Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarin on Sunday. Los Rojiblancos impressed in the first half of the season, but they are only one point clear of second-place Barcelona ahead of Matchday 30. Yannick Carrasco returns from suspension, while Renan Lodi has joined Joao Felix and Moussa Dembele in the recovery room. As always, a man to watch in the away team will be Luis Suarez, who has netted 19 goals in La Liga so far this season.
Los Beticos, on the other hand, have been producing fine displays in the second half of the season, with the team sitting in 5th position in the table ahead of the visit of Atletico. Considering that los Rojiblancos do not seem to be at their sharpest, share of spoils is on the cards in Seville. The bad news for the hosts is that Borja Iglesias suffered an injury in the 1-1 draw with Elche at the weekend.
Highlighted Player (Aissa Mandi):
Aissa Mandi is a product of Reims’ youth school. After playing eight matches for Reims II in the 2009/2010 season, he started playing for the first team in 2010. Mandi made his Reims debut against Le Havre on 20 August, 2010 and he remained at Stade Auguste Delaune until 30 June, 2016, when he decided to join Spanish side Real Betis.
The Algeria international, who was born in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, signed a five-year contract with los Beticos which expires on 30 June, 2021. His main position is centre back, but he is capable of playing as a full back as well. The right-footed defender made his Algeria debut on 5 March, 2014 and he helped the Algerian national team keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Slovenia.
Mandi impressed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but he scored his first goal for Algeria in a 3-3 draw with Ethiopia in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He represented Algeria at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations as well.
Highlighted Team (Atletico Madrid):
Atletico Madrid are a Spanish team that plays in Primera Division (La Liga). Los Rojiblancos or los Colchoneros play their home matches at Estadio Vicente Calderon, which holds up to 54,960 spectators. Atletico Madrid have won 10 La Liga titles, but they have yet to lift the European Cup (Champions League) trophy.
Los Rojiblancos have won 10 Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) trophies and it has to be noted that they defeated their bitter local rivals Real Madrid in the 2012/2013 Spanish Cup final. The rivalry between the two capital clubs is pretty big and El Madrileno is regarded as one of the most exciting derbies in the world football.
Atletico Madrid played two Champions League finals under Diego Simeone, but they failed to beat Real Madrid in the title games (2013/2014 and 2015/2016). However, the Argentine tactician helped Atletico Madrid win the La Liga trophy in 2014 and, no doubt, he is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the capital club.