Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Following a 1-1 draw with Las Palmas, Real Betis will look to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Espanyol to their Estadio Benito Villamarin on Sunday. Los Beticos are eyeing their third home win of the process and they are surely capable of beating Espanyol in front of home fans. Fit-again striker Cedric Bakambu is pushing for his first start of the season, while all Vitor Roque, Youssouf Sabaly, William Carvalho, and Isco remain on the sidelines with injuries.
Los Periquitos, on the other hand, have been struggling at the back of late, with the team losing to both Real Madrid (1-4) and Villarreal (1-2) in the last two league matches. As over the years Real Betis have turned their Estadio Benito Villamarin into a real fortress, home win should be considered. Midfielder Eduardo Exposito should be the only absentee in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Rui Silva):
Born on the 7th of February, 1994, Rui Silva is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Granada in LaLiga. The Maia born started his football journey playing Futsal before eventually joining the youth setup at Maia FC in 2006. After six years of development, he got recruited by C.D Nacional and signed a professional contract with the club in 2012.
Two years later, on the 26th of January, 2014, he made his professional debut in a Portuguese Super Cup group game against Leixoes SC and kept a clean sheet. The 6ft 3-inch tall goalkeeper went on to make over 50 appearances for the club before leaving for Spain in 2017 to join his current club Granada FC on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
Additionally, the 25-year-old has represented Portugal at the youth level, winning his standalone cap for its under-21 team in a friendly against England on the 13th of November, 2014.
Highlighted Team (Espanyol):
Espanyol are a Catalan club that plays in Spanish La Liga. Espanyol were founded in 1900 and their original name was Sociedad Espanola de Football. In 1901 the Catalan club changed its name to Club Espanol de Futbol. Los Periquitos used to play in bright yellow shirts in the past, but current colour of the team’s home kit is blue and white.
Espanyol’s fiercest rivals are Barcelona and the two teams face each other in the Catalan derby (Derbi barceloni). Espanyol have always been in Barca’s shadow, but it has to be noted that los Periquitos have won four Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup trophies).
The likes of Raul Tamudo, Jose Maria, Antonio Argiles and Mauricio Pochettino are players with most appearances for the Catalan outfit. Espanyol play their home games at Estadio Cornella-El Prat and the capacity of the stadium is 40,500. Los Periquitos have never participated in the Champions League.