Fresh from booking their place in the Conference League semi-finals, Real Betis now turn their eyes back to the domestic front — and to the dream of Champions League football. The stage is set for Monday night at Montilivi, where they take on a Girona side desperately fighting to avoid being dragged into the relegation scrap.
Los Verdiblancos, riding high in sixth, know that every point is gold in the race for Europe. But Girona — sitting 16th — won’t go quietly. They’re wounded, cornered, and will be fighting with everything they’ve got in front of their home fans.
History hasn’t been kind to Girona in this matchup — they’ve lost three of their last six La Liga clashes against Betis — but with the stakes sky-high for both sides, expect a battle with everything on the line.
Things are going from bad to worse for Girona, whose fairytale form from last season has completely vanished. Once the darlings of La Liga with a stunning third-place finish, they’re now tumbling fast and hard—losing three on the bounce and going a shocking nine games without a single win. That latest heartbreak? A 2-1 collapse at Osasuna, sealing their third straight defeat and leaving fans wondering what on earth has happened to their beloved team.
And the bad news doesn’t stop there.
Bryan Gil, the electric loanee from Tottenham, looks to have kicked his last ball in a Girona shirt. A brutal knee injury has ended his season early, and with it, any hopes of a heroic return.
To make matters worse, Miguel Gutierrez was forced to watch the Osasuna loss from the sidelines, nursing a nagging adductor issue. Hopes for a swift return? Slim. The left-back remains a major doubt ahead of Monday’s crucial showdown with Real Betis.
But amidst the gloom, there may be a flicker of light.
Enter Yaser Asprilla—who came off the bench like a man on a mission and snatched a late goal in the Osasuna clash. With Girona desperate for fresh inspiration, he could be handed a starting role against Betis.
And speaking of comebacks, Ivan Martin is back in action after shaking off an injury that kept him out for two matches. He made a cameo at El Sadar, and now he’s eyeing a full return to Michel’s lineup, ready to inject some much-needed spark into this flailing side.
GIRONA predicted lineup vs REAL BETIS: Gazzaniga (GK); Martinez, Lopez, Krejci, Blind; Romeu, Herrera, Martin; Asprilla, Danjuma, Ruiz.
Betis are riding a European high after booking their place in the UEFA Conference League semi-finals. A 1-1 draw away at Jagiellonia was all they needed, cruising through with a 3-1 aggregate win and keeping continental dreams alive. But back on home soil, things aren’t quite as rosy. They’ve failed to win their last two La Liga outings—though let’s not forget, they did pull off three straight victories before that dip.
Injury woes, however, are beginning to bite—and hard.
Defensive anchor Diego Llorente and midfield engine Marc Roca have both been ruled out for the rest of the season. Llorente’s hamstring and Roca’s ankle have thrown a serious wrench into Betis' plans, just as the season enters its crunch time.
And it doesn’t end there.
Chimy Ávila, the ever-combative forward, has also seen his campaign cut short thanks to a thigh injury picked up during training last week. His absence was sorely felt in the 2-1 loss to Villarreal—and will continue to be a major blow going forward.
To make matters worse, left-back Ricardo Rodríguez limped off during the first half of the Conference League clash, adding another name to Betis’ growing injury list. His availability for the Montilivi trip? Doubtful at best.
In his place, Romain Perraud is expected to slot in. Meanwhile, a fresh injection of quality could arrive in the form of Adrian, Aitor Ruibal, Johnny Cardoso, Isco, and Cucho Hernandez—all tipped to return to the starting lineup as Betis look to juggle domestic pressure with European glory.
REAL BETIS predicted lineup vs GIRONA: Adrian (GK); Ruibal, Bartra, Natan, Perraud; Cardoso, Fornals; Antony, Isco, Rodriguez; Cucho.
Isco with a touch of magic, Cucho on the counter, and a late goal from Ruibal to twist the knife. Girona might grab a consolation—maybe another Asprilla cameo special—but this one’s got “controlled demolition” written all over it. Betis cruise, Girona bruise.
Prediction: Real Betis wins & over 2.5.
