Real Betis Aim for Third Straight Win Against Villarreal

Real Betis head to Estadio de la Ceramica on Monday chasing a third straight win in all competitions. Villarreal, under new boss Inigo Perez, are still hunting for their first.

Perez under early strain

Perez arrived with momentum and reputation. He had just dragged Rayo Vallecano to an eighth-place finish in 2024-25 and taken them all the way to a Conference League final. Villarreal hired a coach on the rise.

The start has cut across that narrative.

Five games, no wins. Two 2-2 draws to open La Liga against Racing Santander and Atletico Madrid, followed by back-to-back defeats to Alaves and Deportivo La Coruna. Defensive fragility, late lapses, points slipping away.

Europe did not offer respite. In his first Champions League match as a head coach, Perez watched his side lose 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in Germany. A Santiago Mourino header and a stoppage-time own goal still left Villarreal empty-handed.

Now comes a pivotal week: Betis at home, then Malaga and Levante before a three-week international break. It already feels like a stretch that will shape the tone of his first season.

History gives him at least one reason to believe. Perez has never lost as a manager to Betis, with one win and four draws from five meetings. Another positive result would not fix everything, but it would steady the ground under his feet.

Betis arrive in full stride

Betis travel in a very different mood.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have opened the 2026-27 campaign with four wins from five competitive fixtures. Their last league outing brought a statement: a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid, with Troy Parrott delivering the decisive blow.

They carried that surge into Europe. Back in the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2005-06, Betis went to Lille and won a wild contest 3-2. They came from behind twice, with Marc Bartra scoring a brace, before Parrott – again – stepped up to settle it on his Champions League debut.

Momentum is real here. Betis sit fifth in La Liga, just three points off Barcelona and Real Madrid. The table is still young, but the chase is on.

They also like this fixture. Last season they took four points from six against Villarreal, including a dramatic draw on their last visit to La Ceramica when Antony struck twice to haul Betis back from 2-0 down. That result extended their unbeaten run in league trips to Villarreal to four matches (two wins, two draws) since a 2-0 defeat in October 2021.

This is a ground they no longer fear.

Team news and likely XIs

Villarreal’s selection picture is mixed. Carlos Romero is expected to remain sidelined, while Juan Foyth is unlikely to feature after missing the last two matches through injury.

There is a change in goal. Peter Gulacsi, who started the narrow defeat to Borussia Dortmund, is set for his La Liga debut, with Luiz Junior making way.

Perez is ready to rotate in the middle of a heavy schedule. Alex Freeman, Nicolas Pepe, Alberto Moleiro, Ayoze Perez and Gerard Moreno are all pushing to start, offering different attacking shapes and profiles if the coach wants to jolt his side into life.

Villarreal possible starting XI: Gulacsi; Freeman, Navarro, Veiga, Cardona; Comesana, Saliba; Pepe, Gerard, Moleiro; Perez.

Betis have fewer moving parts but some notable updates. Aitor Ruibal is still working his way back from the knee injury that ended his previous campaign, so he remains out of contention.

There is better news elsewhere. Abde Ezzalzouli should be available again, while Diego Llorente is expected to play through a broken nose with a protective mask after being injured in the win over Real Madrid. Antony is tipped to recover from illness in time to start on the right flank.

Pellegrini has a settled core and little reason to tinker after consecutive high-profile wins.

Real Betis possible starting XI: Valles; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Garcia; Roca, Bernal; Antony, Isco, Fornals; Parrott.

Prediction

Villarreal need a win. Betis smell an opportunity.

Perez’s record against Los Verdiblancos suggests this may not turn into a full-blown crisis night, but Betis’ form and confidence make them a formidable obstacle.

Villarreal 1-1 Real Betis.

If that script holds, Perez buys time – but not much. How long can a club built for Europe tolerate a coach who cannot quite turn performances into victories?