The Real Champs
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Scouting the enemy: everything you need to know about Real Betis

By Ben Sundock

BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 20: Real Betis Balompie players line up to observe a minute's silence in memory of victims of the terrorist attack in Barcelona this week prior to start the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie at Camp Nou stadium on August 20, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 20: Real Betis Balompie players line up to observe a minute's silence in memory of victims of the terrorist attack in Barcelona this week prior to start the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie at Camp Nou stadium on August 20, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /

Players to watch for

Andrés Guardado

The maestro of the Betis midfield is the Mexican international, Andrés Guardado.

The 30-year-old is off to a fantastic start to the season, supplying three assists in three starts, and once as a substitute. Not only is he a passing wizard, registering an average completion percentage of 87.9%, but he is also versatile.

Manager Quique Setién has deployed Guardado as a central defensive midfielder and a center mid on multiple occasions already this season.

And with that versatility comes plenty of opportunities to mix up formations and play with Guardado more forward or deep depending on the opponent. For example, in the win over Deportivo, Setién started his team in a 4-3-3 with Andrés almost right behind the forward line supplying through balls and helping create chances.

But, at Barcelona in the opening match of the season, the manager played a 4-1-4-1 with Guardado as the CDM, linking up the back line and the midfield and helping as a fifth defender.

I can’t even guess where he will start tonight’s match but expect to see him free roaming the midfield looking to start a quick counter-attack.

Joaquín

A striker/winger, Joaquín Sánchez is a beast for 36-years-old. We all know what Cristiano Ronaldo has been able to do at the age of 32, but what Joaquín has continued to do while at Betis has been very impressive as well.

Last season wasn’t the best for the forward, as he only scored 3 goals in 28 matches. However, after bagging both goals in the win over Deportivo last time out, this guy has the potential to go off.

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He has a strong right foot and is quick in moving to a cross or finding space between defenders. It was Guardado who sent a beautiful ball past two La Courña defenders to Joaquín who outran everyone and sweetly scored the game-winning goal.

Don’t let the receding hair fool you, this man has some pace and scoring ability.

Sergio León

Tied with Joaquín for the goal-scoring lead on the team is the primary striker, Sergio León.

Sergio is another guy who has been around for a while now. The 28-year-old has that veteran vision that pays dividends in tight games. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time on crosses and has great heading ability and power in the air.

He has bagged both his goals in four appearances with his head and has the wheels to get upfield on counter-attacks and get in the box where he thrives.

Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane will need to be wary of the striker as he could lurk in behind and thump a powerful header goalward.

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