Espanyol v Real Betis Betting Tips: Goals very much the way to go at RCDE

La Liga returns on Friday night and it’s down to Espanyol and Real Betis to set the tone for the rest of weekend’s action. If this match is anything like the host’s last Friday night encounter then the fans in attendance at RCDE Stadium are in for a treat.

Over the last few match-days these two have found high-scoring matches hard to avoid, especially in their respective home and away matches, and, as they now come together, much of the same is expected. Both ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ and ‘Both Teams to Score’ catch the eye here.

As they sit in 9th position, Espanyol have enjoyed a fairly decent time of things in La Liga so far this season. Quique Sánchez Flores’ men have often looked strong going forward and have played an attacking brand of football, particularly in recent weeks. Such a forward-thinking style has allowed the hosts to score plenty of goals in front of their own fans with them scoring no less than 25 times at RCDE this season. Having scored 14 in their last five, recent home fixtures have proven to be extremely fruitful from an attacking point of view.

Although the hosts have looked very dangerous going forward, playing in such a way is bound to afford the opposition quite a few goal-scoring opportunities and that has definitely been the case lately. For all their efforts in the final third, Espanyol have kept just one clean sheet in their last five and have conceded seven goals during that time, including three in their last home match against Las Palmas.

Unlike the hosts, Betis aren’t exactly making a name for themselves as an overly threatening attacking force, but they are continuing to score regular goals. Veterans Rubén Castro and Joaquín, along with the mercurial young talent of Dani Ceballos, are pretty much the only shining lights for the visitors in the final third, but these are certainly player’s who’re capable of getting a goal or two. A total of 13 goals on the road this season isn’t the best, but Víctor Sánchez’ side have scored at least once in each of their last four away matches, including against Real Madrid last time out.

With Espanyol generally conceding plenty of goals, the visitors should certainly fancy their chances of getting on the score-sheet in this one, but, considering they’re yet to keep a clean sheet away from home this season, they’re likely to be in for another tough night defensively.

The fact that ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ has landed in each of the last five Espanyol home matches, as well as in three of the last five Betis away fixtures, bodes well, while a combined ‘Both Teams to Score’ (respective home and away matches) figure of 59% is also positive. In addition, an ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ bet would’ve paid out in 64% of Espanyol’s home fixtures and in 54% of Real Betis’ away games so far this season, making the 7/5 price quoted look a bit too big.

When either of these two have been in involved on a Friday night in recent times, goals have tended to be on the cards. The last three Friday night fixtures involving either of these teams have ended 4-3, 4-1 and 2-1. There’s plenty to suggest that fans and punters alike could be treated to goals once more so ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ and ‘Both Teams to Score’ are two bets that are well worth placing.

See more tips here.