Deportivo A-Coruna vs Real Betis 20 September 2026 Prediction

Deportivo and Betis have been two of the biggest surprises in the opening weeks of the season. After returning to La Liga, the Galician club went unbeaten in its first five games before Sevilla ended that run with a 1-0 victory. Manuel Pellegrini’s team has made an even stronger start, recording five wins to move into third place in the standings. The sides now meet at Riazor, with both teams set to play their third match in seven days.

Deportivo Could Not Win Even with Aubameyang

Antonio Hidalgo’s team remained unbeaten until Wednesday. Deportivo dropped points for the first time on Matchday 6, losing 1-0 at home to Sevilla. There is still room for improvement, particularly in defense. The team has conceded in every league match this season, making defensive consistency a concern despite its encouraging start.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been Deportivo’s standout player, scoring five goals and adding two assists in the first five rounds. The 37-year-old forward’s scoring streak ended against Sevilla, but he remains the team’s main attacking threat.

Hidalgo also has a selection issue ahead of the Betis match. Angeliño received a straight red card and will be suspended. The manager made five changes to his starting lineup in midweek and later noted that the congested schedule had made recovery difficult. He will again need to manage his players’ workload while making the necessary adjustments against one of the league leaders.

Betis Kept Its Key Players Fresh

Betis has won five of its first six league matches. Those victories include 1-0 wins over Copa del Rey holder Real Sociedad and Real Madrid, as well as a 2-1 result against last season’s third-place finisher Villarreal. Apart from an unusual 5-2 defeat to Levante, Pellegrini’s team has been excellent defensively. Betis kept clean sheets in four of its other five La Liga matches, winning each of them 1-0. Its organized defense has been a major factor in the strong start.

Pellegrini has also made good use of his squad depth. After the win over Villarreal, the manager made several changes for the 1-0 victory against Getafe. Marc Bartra, Fran García, Pablo Fornals, and Marc Roca were rested and did not play, while Héctor Bellerín, Dani Ceballos, Cucho Hernández, and Rodrigo Riquelme came off the bench. As a result, several key players should be fresh for the trip to Riazor.

Predicted Lineup for Deportivo La Coruña vs Betis

Deportivo La Coruña (4-1-3-2): Román; H. Navarro, Noubi, Ximénez, Quagliata; Casado; Luismi, Amatucci, Soriano; Aubameyang, Nsongo

Unavailable: Carrillo (injury), Angeliño (suspension)

Manager: Antonio Hidalgo

Betis (4-2-3-1): Valles; Bellerín, Bartra, Natan, F. García; Roca, Fornals; Antony, Isco, Riquelme; Cucho Hernández

Unavailable: Ruibal, Llorente (both injured)

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

Deportivo La Coruña vs Betis Prediction: Betis to Win

Main prediction: Betis has looked convincing both at home and on the road. Pellegrini’s team has won three of its four competitive away matches this season, including a 3-2 Champions League victory over Lille. Deportivo has not faced many strong opponents at home. The Galician side drew 1-1 with an inconsistent Elche team and beat a struggling Valencia 3-1 before suffering its first home defeat, 1-0 against Sevilla. Both teams rotated in the previous round, but Betis has considerably more depth. Pellegrini was able to give several key players a full rest, which could be important during this congested stretch. The main pick is Betis to win at odds of 2.11.

Goals prediction: Betis has produced higher-scoring matches on the road than at home. Each of its last three away games in all competitions featured at least three goals. Deportivo also plays proactively and has scored in five of its six league matches. However, the Galician side has conceded in every La Liga game. Based on those trends, the additional pick is over 2.5 goals at odds of 1.83.