Home and Away: Back Bilbao to pile misery on bottom side Betis

Betting Tips | Article posted on January 8th, 2025

Two cup games provide the focus for Jonno Turner’s Home and Away column today, as he previews action in Spain and England…
Atletico Bilbao travel to Real Betis in the Copa Del Rey tonight – with both sides desperate to edge ahead in the first leg of this cup tie.
The visitors go into this game sitting fourth in La Liga, and three unbeaten from their last four outings will have them full of confidence as they make the trip to Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have enjoyed their best start to a campaign for nearly 60 years – but their away form has been somewhat mixed, with three losses from their last six.
They will be eyeing this encounter as a perfect opportunity to arrest that slump though, and, with the likes of a resurgent Iker Muniain, who has notched two in his last three, leading the line – rest assured they will be dangerous on the attack tonight.
Hosts Betis go into this cup game sitting bottom of the Primera Division, and will be hoping for an improved return in 2025 since appointing Juan Garrido at the helm.
The Verdiblancos have not yet turned a corner following that appointment though, and just one victory from their last 10 indicates that they may struggle to contain their guests in this clash.
Six draws from 11 on their own patch, and just three goals scored in their last five, pointds to a lack of cutting edge in the final third.
The hosts are crying out for an out and out goalscorer, and with five goalless outings in their last nine, I reckon they could come up a little short in this game.
Bet 1: Atletico Bilbao (AWAY) @ 2.26/5
Back to more familiar climes now, and the FA Cup, as League One Crawley Town host League Two Bristol Rovers at the Broadfield Stadium.
Four unbeaten from their last five will buoy John Gregory’s side, and, after a slow start, it appears that the ex-Aston Villa boss is finally beginning to engineer a turnaround in West Sussex.
The hosts now sit 13th in the third tier, and just one defeat in five on their own patch suggests that their home patch is once again becoming a difficult place to visit.
Three clean sheets from four games underlines just how well-drilled and hard to breach the Red Devils have been in recent weeks, and I think that could see them through against a Bristol Rovers side which has been a victim of some Jekyll and Hyde results of late.
John Ward’s side travel to this clash teetering on the edge of the fourth tier drop zone, and just two wins from eight outings makes it clear to see where their woes lie.
It is now five