Just three days after the sides met in a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash, Atletico Madrid and Real Betis reconvene at the Wanda Metropolitano for Sunday’s La Liga clash.
Diego Simeone’s men ran out 5-0 winners in Thursday’s last-eight encounter to make it two wins from two against Betis this season, following a 2-0 triumph in October’s first league meeting.
Match preview
After ending January with a goalless stalemate against Levante, Atletico made a blistering start to February by thrashing Betis at Estadio de la Cartuja to reach the Copa del Rey last four.
New arrival Ademola Lookman wasted no time endearing himself to his new supporters, grabbing a goal and an assist to lead the onslaught for Los Colchoneros.
Atletico will seek to close the gap on the league leaders Barcelona to 10 points and move six points clear of Villarreal in fourth before they play.
Only city rivals Real Madrid have picked up more points at home than Sunday’s hosts, who have only been denied maximum points in league action just once this term.
While Atletico will have one eye on their upcoming cup semi-final against Barcelona on Thursday, they will need to set the tone with a dominant display this weekend.
Betis’ drubbing against Atletico was their first home defeat since early December and also snapped a run of consecutive victories over Feyenoord and Alaves.
With little time to dwell on a humiliating defeat, Manuel Pellegrini’s men will need to pick themselves up as soon as possible.
Los Heliopolitanos have won just two of their 11 away league matches this season, highlighting the size of the task lying in wait if they are to emerge victorious in the Spanish capital.
Betis are currently fifth in the La Liga table, but a defeat on Sunday would drop them to sixth if Espanyol pick up three points.
Team news
Johnny Cardoso is unavailable to face his former club due to a muscle injury. Pablo Barrios will not feature on Sunday after suffering an injury, while Nico Gonzalez (back) is also sidelined.
Betis have a lengthy list of absentees with several players currently ruled out.
Giovani Lo Celso, Hector Bellerin, Sofyan Amrabat, Isco, Cucho Hernandez and Chimy Avila are all nursing respective injury problems.
Atletico Madrid Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Mendoza, Koke, Baena; Lookman, Alvarez.
Real Betis Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Valles; Rodriguez, Natan, Bartra, Ruibal; Roca, Altimira; Ezzalzouli, Fornals, Antony; Bakambu.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 3-1 Real Betis.
