- 1 Real Betis vs Real Sociedad: a European showdown
- 2 Real Betis: four summer wins and a settled squad
- 3 Real Sociedad: three straight defeats and no new signings
- 4 La Liga prediction Real Betis vs Real Sociedad
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information can change fast
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Real Betis vs Real Sociedad: a European showdown 
Real Betis wrapped up 2025-26 with 60 points, 15 wins, 15 draws and eight defeats. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, finished 10th.
Those two records go head to head on Friday 21 August at 21:00 at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, in the opening round of their league campaign. The match counts as matchday two in La Liga, after the calendar was stretched out following the World Cup.
Fifth place earned Betis a spot in the 2026-27 Champions League league phase. They finished six points behind sixth-placed Celta Vigo.
Real Sociedad are also in Europe this season, but by a different route: their Copa del Rey triumph booked them a place in the Europa League despite a disappointing league finish.
The two clubs have met 120 times, with Betis winning 42 of those games. Their last clash, at the end of last season, finished 2-2.
Real Betis: four summer wins and a settled squad 
Betis recorded three warm-up wins, against Lyon (4-0), Almeria (1-0) and Arsenal (3-1 away). Their final test against Inter Milan ended in a 1-0 defeat on 15 August.
That 3-1 win in London remains the standout result of the Andalusian summer. Manuel Pellegrini’s side showed they can stand up to top-level opposition.
The transfer business has been modest on the Seville side, with only three arrivals: Facundo Bernal, Fran Garcia and Diego Conde. Sergi Altimira is the most notable departure in fee terms.
Conde and Aitor Ruibal will miss the game through injury, while Gonzalo Petit and Giovani Lo Celso remain doubtful. Fran Garcia and Bernal are expected to make their official debuts.
Antony and Pablo Fornals will lead the attack, with Rodrigo Riquelme a possible option on the left. Betis have not lost to Real Sociedad in their last three league meetings.
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Real Sociedad: three straight defeats and no new signings 
Real Sociedad have lost four of their seven pre-season matches, including the last three. The most recent, on 15 August, ended in a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.
The Basque side have conceded in all seven friendlies. That leaky run is the first headache for Pellegrino Matarazzo as they head into La Liga.
No new signings have been registered this summer in San Sebastian, though that should change before the window shuts. So the squad remains basically the same one that finished 10th last season.
Alvaro Odriozola is a long-term absentee, and Goncalo Guedes is among the main doubts for this trip. Mikel Oyarzabal returned against Chelsea after his World Cup comeback, but he may be short of sharpness and start on the bench.
Takefusa Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea are expected to feature in the final third. Real Sociedad have taken just one point from their last three league games against Betis, with their last win coming in December 2024.
[Expected Real Betis line-up: Valles ; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Garcia ; Bernal, Roca ; Antony, Fornals, Riquelme ; Hernandez
Expected Real Sociedad line-up: Remiro ; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Martin, Gomez ; Herrera, Sucic ; Kubo, Soler, Barrenetxea ; Oskarsson
La Liga prediction Real Betis vs Real Sociedad
Our prediction: Real Betis to win
Betis come into this with four positive results from five summer outings, including a win at the Emirates. Real Sociedad, by contrast, are on a run of three straight defeats and have not kept a clean sheet once all summer.
That gap in momentum is matched by a gap in preparation: three signings and a fairly settled XI on the Seville side, no reinforcements and an out-of-rhythm Oyarzabal on the Basque side. The recent head-to-head record backs that up too, with Real taking just one point from the last three meetings.
At La Cartuja, in front of their own fans and with Champions League status in the bank, Betis have everything in place to kick off their season properly. We’re backing the Andalusians to win.
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