The top teams in La Liga have begun to see their season tighten up as they approach the holiday season on December 21st. Real Betis has the privilege of hosting Getafe in Estadi La Cartuja, and while not exactly an enthralling contest from afar, this match bears importance to both teams as they battle for positions in the European places and safety in mid-table.
Real Betis have a chance to build their authority in the field and at the standings. For Getafe, it is about holding on, staying alive, and trying to regain their confidence following a difficult period. The two clubs have clearly differing styles and are inconsistent form and are beginning to feel the pressure to produce results for different reasons. This match has all the makings of a game high in tension but low in actual chaos, with the teams showing a great degree of nuance in their play rather than noise.
Key Match Details
- Competition: La Liga
- Date: December 21st, 2025
- Time: 08.00 PM UTC
- Venue: Estadio La Cartuja - Seville
- Win Probability: Real Betis: 56% | Draw: 27% | Getafe: 17%
The Big Picture: The Importance of This Game
At this moment Real Betis is sitting in the 6th position in La Liga and has secure the tickets to European competition, which is a clear acknowledgment of the manager Manuel Pellegrini's long-term approach and the club's success philosophy. In accordance with that goal, the pattern of play has been consistent, not flamboyant or theatrical. Furthermore, the group has been executing one of the most complex attacking performances in the division, and although the goals are presently flowing, the primary strength of the unit is their patience, discipline, and tactical mentalities.
For Getafe, however, things are looking quite the opposite. They are currently ranked 10th in La Liga with only five points separating them from Real Betis, but their history recently has not been great. They have experienced a three-game losing streak, and the results have created some serious questions regarding their offensive efficiency, depth, and confidence in their playing ability. The match this Sunday will be crucial not only because it is worth three points, but also because it gives them the opportunity to stop any long-term decline before it starts.
Real Betis: Rhythm, Rotation, and Responsibility
Recent Results: WWLWDW
After a very solid and businesslike 2-0 win over Real Murcia in the Copa Del Rey, Betis are in a good moment. The game allowed Pellegrini the ability to play some of his younger players while at the same time keeping high intensity within the team. Over the last six matches across both domestic and international competitions, the average number of goals scored in games involving Betis is 3.67, and they are creating opportunities because they play with a positive attacking mentality and willingness to take calculated risks. The last five games for Betis yielded 4 wins, and they are in good momentum, but there’s a caveat: Betis hasn’t won their last two home games in La Liga. While this isn’t concerning, it makes this match much more crucial for Betis, especially against a team that can disrupt their rhythm.
In terms of tactics, Betis still plays a 4-2-3-1 formation that provides them with flexibility to possess the ball and penetrate vertically. Isco being injured has meant that creative duties are now being shared instead of replaced. Pablo Fornals, Antony, and Rodrigo Riquelme have shared the creative load well, with Marc Roca acting as a stabilizing presence behind them. Antony is the key player in Betis’ setup. The winger from Brazil is quickly becoming one of the most important players for Betis this season. With five goals and 11 appearances in La Liga, Antony provides Betis with an outlet to score goals when games become slow. He could be vital against Getafe’s tight defensive line because of his ability to create instability in their structure.
Getafe: Pressure, Problems, and Pragmatism
Latest Form: LWWLLL
Getafe is facing severe pressure as they head to Seville, having lost to Burgos in the Copa del Rey, which not only eliminated them from the competition but also highlighted their weaknesses. While Getafe dominated possession with 59%, they were unable to penetrate the Burgos defense and lacked intensity and defensive strength, allowing the Second Division team to score three times.
In total, Getafe has given up nine goals over their six previous matches and has been scored upon in all but one of the last five matches they played. Although José Bordalás' teams are usually characterized by their lack of softness, this team has shown cracks in their ability to defend wide areas or come back in games that they have fallen behind in.
It is likely that Getafe will set up in a 4-4-2 formation, which is consistent with Bordalás' long-standing principles of compact lines, physical duels, and opportunistic transitions. Borja Mayoral will be the main attacking reference for Getafe, while Mauro Arambarri and Luis Milla will be tasked with interrupting Betis' buildup rather than dominating possession. Getafe's problems away from home have continued, as they have not won any of their last two away matches, and with Betis' ability to possess the ball, Getafe will have little margin for error.
Head-to-Head: Trend Towards Betis
The last six games played between these teams have seen Betis winning three times, while Getafe has won once with two draws, the teams have each averaged two goals per game. The last league encounter was a Betis win 2-1, on 2015-02-25. This was representative of the rivalry. Getafe played competitively but ultimately fell to a bet in tactical sophistication. Isco's pair on this night was another reminder that even during close games, Betis can still create important scores out of nothing. Furthermore, Getafe has not registered a win at Betis' home stadium in the league over the last 2 seasons, which gives them the psychological advantage.
Tactical Fight: Command vs Pressure
Betis wants to dominate possession throughout the game (at least 60%) and would like to create overlapping opportunities in the open areas between the strikers and full-backs, using rotating attacking midfielders to create an overload situation. Their patient approach to circulating the ball from side to side (behind and beside) is intended to stretch a compact defensive shape horizontally and to subsequently capitalize on the vertical gap created.
Conversely, Getafe will aim to close off the areas of play as much as possible by forcing Betis to take shots that have a very low chance of scoring. Getafe remains a threat through counterattacks; however, this will require them to be very efficient in winning second balls and being able to isolate defenders very quickly, something that the team has substantially improved upon this season. If Betis manages to score first, this could allow for a fast opening in the match. If Getafe is still successful after 60 minutes, this could allow for a shift in momentum in Getafe's favor.
Team News and Projected Starting XIs
Real Betis (4-2-3-1)
Valles, Ruibal, Bartra, Natan, Rodriguez, Deossa, Roca, Antony, Fornals, Riquelme, Hernandez
Although there are significant injury problems and international absences, Betis still has enough depth and team cohesion to continue competing at or near the same level as the other top Spanish clubs.
Getafe (4-4-2)
Soria, Femenía, Abqar, Duarte, Rico, Iglesias, Djene, Arambarri, Sancris, Mayoral, Martin
Getafe's line-up structure is designed to encourage more discipline than showmanship. Getafe is going to try to stay in contact with other teams for as long as possible during the match.
Winning Odds from Stake.com
Final Prediction and Conclusion
Real Betis is a much more creative squad, currently in better form, and has established an identity as a team. Getafe is a gritty, structurally strong team that is capable of making games uncomfortable for their opponents, but because of their poor defense and weak attacking unit right now, the scales are clearly tipped.
- Final Prediction: Real Betis wins 2-1 against Getafe
It is likely that Real Betis will be able to get through the toughness of Getafe in the end, as they have more players in their frontline contributing. Also, the time of the year lends itself to determining which team can retain possession of the ball (the month of December), and Real Betis looks to be in the best position to do so.
