Real Betis Keep Winning And Keep Dreaming Of The Champions League
Mumbai: This seasons race for Champions League qualification in La Liga promises to be a thrilling one, with several clubs in contention. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona sit out in front in first and second, locked in a tense title race, while Villarreal CF and Atltico de Madrid currently occupy third and fourth place on 45 points each. But, both clubs now need to look over their shoulder at Real Betis, who are currently fifth and just behind on 41 points. Real Betis have been continuously inside the top six since Matchday 7, but its only in the past month that Manuel Pellegrinis men have truly climbed into the Champions League conversation. With four victories from their past five, including three wins in a row, Los Verdiblancos have moved into striking position and seem poised to capitalise on any slip-up from Villarreal CF or Atltico de Madrid. The teams most recent win came in Matchday 24, a 2-1 victory away at RCD Mallorca. First-half goals from Ez Abde and Cdric Bakambu, two players who are now well and truly back from the Africa Cup of Nations, earned the Andalusian outfit the win, even with Vedat Muriqi keeping up his scoring run and pulling one back for the islanders in the second half. After the game, Ez Abde spoke about the possibility of Champions League qualification, stating: We need to keep this up, by continuing to work hard, and we should have Champions League qualification as an objective. It wont be easy, but we hope to make it by the end of the season. Curiously, Real Betis wont face either of their direct rivals again this league campaign. Were only five matches into the second half of the season, but already Los Verdiblancos have taken on each of Villarreal CF and Atltico de Madrid for a second time. And, Real Betis have defeated both of their rivals in recent weeks, which partly explains how theyve been able to close the gap. Against Villarreal CF, Los Verdiblancos won 2-0 at home in the middle of January, to follow on from a 2-2 draw at the Estadio de la Cermica earlier in the campaign. As such, Pellegrinis side hold the head-to-head tiebreaker in the event of finishing the season level on points. It should be noted, though, that Villarreal CF have played one game less than Atleti and than Los Verdiblancos, so could consolidate their position. 'Aare Kehna Kya Chahte Ho': Netizens Troll Pakistan Skipper Salman Ali Agha's English After Team India's 61-Run Win Also Watch: As for Real Betis meetings with Atltico de Madrid, the two clubs played twice in the space of three days earlier in February. The first game was in the Copa del Rey and the team from Spains capital won 5-0 at the Estadio de la Cartuja. However, that weekend Real Betis secured a shock 1-0 victory at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, to really shake up the Champions League race. That said, Atleti did win the previous league meeting 2-0, so its Los Colchoneros who have the head-to-head tiebreaker. Itll be a fascinating end to the season to see which two clubs join Real Madrid and FC Barcelona inside the top four and in next seasons Champions League. There is still a small chance that a fifth Champions League position could become available in LALIGA EA SPORTS, but for now the clubs have to approach every game thinking that they need every possible point to finish inside the top four
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