Preview

 

Sports Mole previews Friday's friendly clash between Real Betis and Burnley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Real Betis and Burnley battle on Friday at Estadio Nuevo Colombino as both sides continue preparations for their respective campaigns.

The LaLiga side finally got that winning feeling with a victory over Middlesbrough, while the Clarets stunned Benfica 2-0 on Tuesday.

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Match preview

After consecutive defeats in pre-season, Betis' victory over Championship club Middlesbrough was just what the doctor ordered.

Manuel Pellegrini's men were handed back-to-back 3-1 losses at the hands of Eintracht Braunschweig and Ligue 1 side Monaco, with the concession of goals worrisome.

However, the Spanish topflight club responded with a shutout against Michael Carrick's troops, with Ayoze Perez's second-half strike securing the victory in Chesterfield.

The Andalusians hope to build on that success when they face newly-promoted Premier League side Burnley, with the Liga club superior on paper.

However, Los Verdiblancos have been defeated by clubs they expect to have wiped the floor with, thus leaving no assurances on Friday.

As for their opponents, Tuesday night's outcome at Estadio do Restelo was unexpected as Vincent Kompany's troops got the better of Benfica.

Second-half goals from Owen Dodgson and Hjalmar Ekdal saw last year's Championship winners stun Roger Schmidt's men in Lisbon.

It was a timely result for the Clarets, who had been defeated 2-0 by Genk last Saturday in their opening pre-season encounter.

Friday's game will be Burnley's third tune-up fixture in the lead-up to their return to the big time after one season away from the leading division.

Even though Kompany was pleased with the triumph, the game could have gone the other way due to Betis creating several chances on the night only to be denied by Arijanet Muric in the Burnley goal.

Whether they secure consecutive scalps remains to be seen, but Burnley's victory over Benfica gives the Premier League side confidence heading into their imminent preparatory friendly games.

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Team News

Pellegrini has alternated his goalkeepers in pre-season, with Claudio Bravo and Rui Silva sharing minutes in the first three encounters, and the latter should start against Kompany's men.

Luis Felipe, Abner Vinicius and William Carvalho have started every game in the off-season and could keep their spots in the lineup, having had five days of rest since beating Middlesbrough last Saturday.

Perez, the match-winner against Boro, could retain his place in the team, while Borja Iglesias could return to the side.

Kompany made several changes from last Saturday's match with Genk, with only Scott Twine and Ameen Al-Dakhil keeping their places in the side against Benfica; expect more rotation from the Burnley boss against Betis.

Despite Muric's top showing on Tuesday, James Trafford should return to the side between the sticks for the English side.

Wout Weghorst returned to the Clarets team after a temporary spell at Manchester United in the second half of last season, and the towering striker should feature in some capacity on Friday.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Montoya, Roca, Felipe, Vinicius; Akouokou, Carvalho; Cruz, Guardado, Perez; Iglesias

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Al-Dakhil, Beyer, Taylor; Brownhill, Cork; Zaroury, Twine, Cullen; Rodriguez

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We say: Real Betis 1-1 Burnley

Betis and Burnley have had mixed results in the off-season, and a tie is likely when Pellegrini and former City captain Kompany lock horns on Friday.

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