Villarreal vs Real Betis: Perez Seeks First Win

Real Betis head to Estadio de la Ceramica on Monday chasing a third straight win in all competitions, while Villarreal and their new coach Inigo Perez are still waiting for lift-off.

Perez under pressure early

Perez arrived with his stock high. He had just taken Rayo Vallecano to eighth in La Liga in 2024-25 and then marched them all the way to a Conference League final. Villarreal wanted that momentum. So far, they have only felt the turbulence.

His reign has opened with a five-game winless run across all competitions. The season started with entertaining but frustrating 2-2 draws against Racing Santander and Atletico Madrid, promising in attack but wasteful in control. Then came the setbacks: consecutive league defeats to Alaves and Deportivo La Coruna that dragged the mood down quickly.

Europe offered no relief. In his first Champions League match as a head coach, Perez watched Villarreal lose 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in Germany, a night when a Santiago Mourino header and a stoppage-time own goal still left them empty-handed. They scored, they fought, they still walked away beaten.

Now comes a pivotal week. Betis at home, then Malaga and Levante before the three-week international break. It already feels like a spell that could define the tone of his first season.

One stat offers Perez a sliver of comfort. He has never lost to Betis as a manager: one win, four draws from five meetings. It is not dominance, but it is a record he will cling to as he looks for a first victory in yellow.

Betis arrive in full stride

While Villarreal search for a spark, Betis turn up with the wind at their backs.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have won four of their first five competitive games of the 2026-27 campaign, including a statement 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in their most recent La Liga outing. That result alone would have sharpened attention. What followed in Europe underlined their form.

Back in the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2005-06, Betis went to Lille and came through a wild 3-2 contest. They trailed twice. They refused to fold. Marc Bartra, more often the defensive anchor, became the unlikely hero with a brace, dragging his team level on each occasion.

Then Troy Parrott, already the matchwinner against Real Madrid, stepped up again. On his Champions League debut, he struck what proved to be the decisive goal, sealing a comeback that felt bigger than three points.

Betis return to domestic duty sitting fifth in La Liga, just three points off early leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid. The table is still young, but the message is clear: they are in the mix.

History at La Ceramica also leans their way. Betis took four points from Villarreal last season, including a dramatic draw on their last visit when Antony scored twice to salvage a point from two goals down. That result extended Betis’s unbeaten run in league trips to Villarreal to four matches (two wins, two draws) since a 2-0 defeat there in October 2021.

They know this ground. They know how to survive here. Lately, they know how to win.

Team news: changes coming for the hosts

Villarreal are expected to remain without Carlos Romero, while Juan Foyth is also unlikely to feature after missing the last two matches through injury.

Between the posts, Peter Gulacsi is set for his La Liga debut, having already displaced Luiz Junior for the narrow defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. A seasoned goalkeeper, he now carries the responsibility of steadying a shaky back line.

Given the congested schedule, Perez is ready to rotate. Alex Freeman, Nicolas Pepe, Alberto Moleiro, Ayoze Perez and Gerard Moreno are all pushing to start on Monday. That attacking mix hints at a more aggressive approach as Villarreal chase that elusive first win under their new boss.

A possible Villarreal XI:
Gulacsi; Freeman, Navarro, Veiga, Cardona; Comesana, Saliba; Pepe, Gerard, Moleiro; Perez.

Betis boosted by returns

On the Betis side, Aitor Ruibal remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from the knee injury he suffered at the end of last season.

There is better news elsewhere. Abde Ezzalzouli and Diego Llorente should both be available, with the defender expected to play in a protective mask after breaking his nose in the win over Real Madrid. Brazilian winger Antony is also tipped to shake off illness in time to start on the right flank, a significant boost given his impact in this fixture last season.

A likely Betis lineup:
Valles; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Garcia; Roca, Bernal; Antony, Isco, Fornals; Parrott.

Prediction

Perez needs a win. Betis bring form, confidence and a recent habit of digging out big results.

Yet his record against Los Verdiblancos and Villarreal’s attacking options suggest this may not be the night the dam finally breaks in either direction.

Villarreal 1-1 Real Betis. The wait for a first victory under Perez could stretch on, and with it, the questions about where this Villarreal project is really heading.