Real Betis, currently perched in the Champions League places faces second from bottom Granada in a tough match to call, despite the gulf between them in the table.

Whoever has the key to predicting the results for Betis matches would do well to stop by their local newsagent’s and pick up a lottery ticket beforehand. The start of the season looked the same for both sides involved in tonight’s game – suffer to survive. Perhaps it will pan out that way for both of them between now and May, we must not forget that the same Betis were first after three games last season, causing a flurry of excitement and the famous Betis Grandmother to hurriedly knit commemorative scarves for the inevitable European campaign. In the end it was those nine points from August which helped Betis in their fight for survival without suffering as much as their nearest rivals.

Granada, on the other hand, stayed up with only a few minutes remaining, after a season in which more than one defibrillator was need in Los Carmenes. It seems that their fans can look forward to another season of suffering this time round too. For a team like Granada, the season revolves around a few precious moments; avoiding relegation (if they manage it), an unexpected victory against one of the big boys, and, of course, the local derbies – 252 kilometres separate Granada from Seville and the former will certainly have more than 252 reasons to scalp the team from the capital.

The statistics bear testament to the good work being done at Betis, more than half of their points have been found away from Seville. And it would not be Betis without mentioning supposed collusion on the part of match officials which have deprived them of valuable points, most notably what locals refer to as the Atletico Madrid Robbery. Nonetheless, it could be this match, against lowly Granada, which defines the rest of the campaign for Betis, more so than the tough month to come (against Sevilla, Barcelona and Madrid). If they can take three points from a match which on paper looks a sure thing, then they could finally stand out from the also-rans in Primera and make a genuine charge for the European places. There is no lack of ambition, but ambition alone is not enough. The Boss has forbidden all talk of Europe, yet starting the weekend with three points would allow Betis to approach the derby as a member of the footballing elite in Spain, even if only as a temporary gatecrasher. Could there be any better reason to look forward to the trip to your fiercest rivals? As always, football in Seville seems just one match away from ecstasy, or the return to agony.

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About the author
Craig Cavanagh
Una perspectiva diferente sobre el fútbol en Hispalis y más allá.