La Liga · Matchday 11 
Our pick2–0Correct result
Malaga chase a climb as Betis test their resolve
Malaga arrive in Seville seeking points to improve their position, but face a Real Betis side fourth after 10 matches. The visitors are still without a win this season.
📍 Estadio de la Cartuja
Preview written: · Updated after team news:
All Matchday 11 matchesFull head-to-head
Match report
Real Betis beat Malaga 2-1. Marc Bartra opened the scoring in the 38th minute, assisted by Isco, and Pablo Fornals added a second for Betis in first-half stoppage time, at 45+2. Adrian Nino pulled one back for Malaga in the 68th minute, but Betis held on for the win. There were no red cards.
Betis had 59% possession and led the shot count 23-10, while shots on target were 6-4. The hosts also had the advantage in expected goals, 1.4 to 1.1, and corners, 10-3. Pablo Fornals was the top-rated player, with a rating of 8.2. The 2-1 result was close to the pre-match model’s predicted 2-0 Betis win, with probabilities of 66% for a home win, 21% for a draw and 13% for an away win.
Goals
- 38'Marc Bartra · Isco · Real Betis
- 45+2'Pablo Fornals · Real Betis
- 68'Adrian Nino · Malaga
Cards
- 20'David Larrubia · Malaga
- 38'Rafael Garrido Hierro · Malaga
- 90+1'Nelson Deossa · Real Betis
- 90+2'Aitor Ruibal · Real Betis
Match stats
⭐ Top-rated player: Pablo Fornals (Real Betis) 8.2
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
Real Betis · 4-2-3-1
- 1Álvaro VallésG
- 2Héctor BellerínD
- 5Marc BartraD
- 4NatanD
- 11Fran GarcíaD
- 8Pablo FornalsM
- 21Marc RocaM
- 17Rodrigo RiquelmeM
- 22IscoM
- 10A. EzzalzouliM
- 19T. ParrottF
Coach: M. Pellegrini
Malaga · 4-1-4-1
- 1Alfonso HerreroG
- 3PugaD
- 20Fernando CaleroD
- 4Einar GalileaD
- 31RafitaD
- 6Ramón EnríquezM
- 10David LarrubiaM
- 8Carlos DotorM
- 22Dani LorenzoM
- 39Adam Aznou Ben CheikhM
- 21Adrián Niño HerediaF
Coach: Funes
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Real Betis | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Malaga | 0.7 | 1.9 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Real Betis | 10 | +2 | 20 |
| 20 | Malaga | 10 | -12 | 5 |
Last meetings
- 2025Malaga3-1Real Betis
- 2018Real Betis2-1Malaga
- 2017Malaga0-2Real Betis
- 2017Malaga1-2Real Betis
- 2016Real Betis1-0Malaga
Absences
Real Betis
- OutF. Bernal · Red Card
- OutJ. Firpo · Groin Injury
- OutC. Hernandez · Calf Injury
- OutI. Losada · Coach's decision
Malaga
- OutJ. Cruz · Muscle Injury
- OutJ. Lobete · Knee Injury
- OutP. Martinez · Foot Injury
- OutJ. Munoz · Calf Injury
- OutD. Murillo · Knee Injury
- OutA. Ochoa · Knee Injury
- DoubtfulA. Recio · Illness
PreviaXI model
Model confidence: Strong
- Predicted score
- 2-0
- Expected goals (model)
- 2.09 – 0.82
- Double chance
- 1X · 87%12 79% · X2 34%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 56%Over 1.5: 79% · Over 3.5: 33%
- Both teams score
- 50%
- Clean sheet
- 44% – 12%Real Betis–Malaga
- Half-time result
- 1 · 48%X 38% · 2 14%
- Half-time / full-time
- 1/1 · 44%X/1 20% · X/X 13%
- Expected corners
- 10.35.3 – 5.0 · Over 9.5: 56%
- Expected cards
- 4.41.8 – 2.6 · Over 3.5: 64%
- Most likely scores
- 2-012%
- 1-011%
- 1-110%
- 2-110%
- 3-08%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
Malaga’s climb starts with a tough test
Malaga have collected just five points from their opening 10 La Liga matches, leaving them 20th, and will look to begin climbing the standings at Estadio de la Cartuja. Real Betis are fourth on 20 points, so the sides meet with sharply contrasting records after the first 10 rounds.
The hosts have won six times, including four victories in five home games. Malaga, by contrast, have yet to win: five draws and five defeats leave them needing a change in results if they are to move up the table.
Betis have the stronger recent run
Real Betis have won three of their last five matches, scoring nine goals in that stretch. Their season total stands at 16 goals in 10 games, with 10 scored at home.
Malaga have taken only one point from their last five outings, scoring five times and conceding 11. Their away attack has been especially limited, with just two goals in five road matches this season, while they have conceded nine.
Recent meetings favour Betis
Real Betis won the last four La Liga meetings listed, including a 2-1 home victory in April 2018. Malaga did beat Betis 3-1 in a friendly in August 2025, the most recent meeting overall, but the league record in the sample favours the hosts.
Absences add to Malaga’s challenge
Real Betis will be without F. Bernal through suspension, J. Firpo with a groin injury and C. Hernandez with a calf injury. I. Losada is also listed as unavailable following the coach’s decision.
Malaga have six listed absentees: J. Cruz, J. Lobete, P. Martinez, J. Munoz, D. Murillo and A. Ochoa. A. Recio is questionable because of illness.
Goals may come from Betis
Betis have averaged two goals per home match this season, while Malaga have conceded an average of 1.8 goals per away game. The contrast is clear against a Malaga side that has scored only twice on its travels, while Betis have also kept three clean sheets at home.
Our prediction
Real Betis’ home record and Malaga’s lack of an away win point toward a home victory. PreviaXI’s model also favours Betis, with the hosts’ stronger scoring output giving them the edge in a likely controlled performance.
Real Betis 2-0 Malaga
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