Real Betis faces Deportivo Alavés on Friday night (kick-off 21:30) in the second round of La Liga EA Sports 2025-26, aiming to put behind them the home draw with Elche and secure their first win at La Cartuja, the arena housing their matches while the Benito Villamarín undergoes renovations. The Betis squad returns to a venue where they lifted the Copa del Rey in 2022 and are intent on turning La Cartuja into a fortress to push for European places come May.
The match comes with a backdrop of a sanctions hit, as the Discipline Committee of the Spanish Football Federation ordered a partial closure of roughly 200 seats at La Cartuja for this game after racist incidents in the previous home fixture against Athletic Club in round 22 last season. It’s a reminder that the club and league are seeking to maintain a respectful atmosphere as Betis tries to kick off a successful two-year stretch away from their traditional home.
On the pitch, Manuel Pellegrini continues to be without Isco Alarcón, so Giovani Lo Celso is expected to step into the number ten role behind the Colombian forward Cucho Hernández, whose work rate and energy are a constant asset. The biggest decision for the Chilean coach may come at left-back, with Junior Firpo expected to reclaim the starting spot, though Ricardo Rodríguez remains in contention if the former fails to secure the role. In midfield, Pellegrini is still hunting for a true holding pivot, with Sergi Altimira and Pablo Fornals charged with the task of weaving play and stabilizing the engine room.
This won’t be an easy assignment. Alavés arrives in Seville with momentum and a cloud of positivity under Diego Coudet, now in his second season at the helm. They opened with a three-point haul against Levante, courtesy of a stoppage-time strike from Nahuel Tenaglia, snapping a run of four straight season-openings ending in defeat. The victory also fuels the belief that Betis’ rivals can be jolting in attack and sturdy in defense. After the win, Alavés are hopeful of continuing the trend of making two good starts in a season for the first time since 2001-02.
Three summer signings started for Coudet in the win over Levante — full-back Jonny Otto, right-back Víctor Parada, and midfielder Pablo Ibáñez — signaling the coach’s plan to integrate new pieces quickly. The club remains active in the market, seeking additional reinforcements in defense and in attack. If the squad lines up as expected, central defender Facundo Garcés could partner Nahuel Tenaglia at the back, with Toni Martínez spearheading the attack.
Historically, Alavés have a favorable recent run against Betis. The Basque side have not lost to Betis since their return to La Liga in 2023-24, recording three draws and one win, which came in the last meeting at Villamarín last season. That record will embolden an Alavés squad that travels with confidence and a high-energy approach.
La Liga Jornada 2 schedule highlights:
– Friday 22: Real Betis vs Deportivo Alavés, 21:30
– Saturday 23: Mallorca vs Celta, 17:00
– Saturday 23: Atlético Madrid vs Elche, 19:30
– Saturday 23: Levante vs Barcelona, 21:30
– Sunday 24: Osasuna vs Valencia, 17:00
– Sunday 24: Real Sociedad vs Espanyol, 19:30
– Sunday 24: Villarreal vs Girona, 19:30
– Sunday 24: Real Sociedad vs Espanyol, 21:30
– Monday 25: Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano, 19:30
– Monday 25: Sevilla vs Getafe, 21:30
What to watch:
– Betis’s ability to translate their possession and creativity into a capsule of danger at La Cartuja, despite the limited seating due to disciplinary measures.
– Alavés’ new arrivals and whether the balance between defense and attack remains solid as they seek a second straight positive result away from home.
– Midfield battle and how the absence of a classic No. 5 for Betis is managed, potentially shaping who controls the tempo.
Potential positives for Betis include continuing to build momentum on their temporary home, leveraging Lo Celso’s skill and Cucho Hernández’s relentless movement to unlock defenses, and turning early-season disruption into a springboard for the campaign. For Alavés, the early good form and fresh faces could make them a tough test for a Betis side eager to prove their adaptability on the road.
Summary:
Real Betis hosts Alavés at La Cartuja in a bid to start a winning run away from home, while dealing with a partial stadium closure for racist incidents. Both teams arrive with momentum but from different angles: Betis aiming to translate their play into a strong home-style performance on neutral ground, and Alavés looking to sustain their early-season energy under Chacho Coudet as they seek to continue a positive run against their opponents. A tactical duel looms, with Betis leaning on Lo Celso behind Cucho and Alavés relying on their new signings to shape a compact, dynamic approach.