Real Betis vs Celta Vigo

Real Betis will be looking to pick up where they left off in 2021 when they meet a lowly Celta Vigo at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in their 2022 La Liga curtain-raiser.

It’s been a dream first half of the season for Real Betis. ‘Los Verdiblancos’ have won 55.56% of their 18 La Liga fixtures so far (W10, D3, L5), finishing 2021 in an unexpected third place in the table. A 3-2 defeat away to Athletic Bilbao in their most recent La Liga outing ended Betis’ run of four league victories in a row, as they risk losing back-to-back top-flight matches for the second time this season. However, the Andalusians are unbeaten in their last six La Liga home encounters against Celta (W3, D3), notably netting 2+ goals in each of the last five. Scoring first would strengthen their bid to maintain that record – Betis are the only La Liga side, alongside Rayo Vallecano, to have avoided defeat in each league game when opening the scoring this season (W9).

Meanwhile, Celta Vigo have blown hot and cold in the first half of the season, having won just 27.78% of their La Liga matches so far (W5, D5, L8). However, a comprehensive 3-1 home victory over Espanyol to round off 2021 helped them build a healthy five-point lead over 18th-placed Deportivo Alaves. Curiously, since a 1-0 defeat at Elche in early October, the visitors have alternated victories and stalemates in their last four La Liga road trips (W2, D2), keeping a clean sheet three times in the process. That’s encouraging, considering they’ve failed to win any of their last 14 La Liga games away to Andalusian sides (D5, L9) since a 3-0 triumph at Granada in April 2017. Celta usually ‘wake up’ after the break when on the road, with six (66.66%) of their nine away league goals scored this term arriving in the second half of play.