AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth's penultimate pre-season outing takes place against Real Betis at Vitality Stadium this Friday. Here's a look at what to expect from the La Liga outfit.
Overview
Full name: Real Betis Balompie SAD
Nickname: Los Verdiblancis (The Green and Whites)
Head coach: Quique Setien
Kit colours: Green and white (home), all green (away), all yellow (third)
Home ground: Benito Villamarin
Capacity: 60,720
2017/18 season
La Liga: 6th
Copa del Rey: Round of 32
Top scorer: Sergio Leon (13 all competitions)
Expert view
Quique Setien has completely revitalised Real Betis since joining the club once his Las Palmas contract expired in the summer of 2017. After a long absence, Betis are back in Europe and are one of the more exciting teams in La Liga.
A tactical revolution saw the club trust Setien and go with three central defenders and a style of play that relies on retaining possession
The sale of Fabian Ruiz to Napoli this transfer window is a major blow for Betis, but they have plenty of experience and quality to see them through.
Up front, they have hard-working options such as Loren Moron, Antonio Sanabria and Sergio Leon, with creative players such as the evergreen Joaquin and Ryad Boudebouz a little deeper with freedom to roam given to them by their wing backs.
Takashi Inui, who starred for Japan at the World Cup, has signed for Betis on a free, with Real Sociedad's Sergio Canales, Espanyol shot-stopper Pau Lopez and Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles also snapped up on the cheap. Both goalkeepers are comfortable with the ball at their feet and will help Betis to play out from the back with further confidence.
Marc Bartra is the most important player for Betis, with the ex-Barcelona centre back helping to shore up their defence massively in the second half of last season. Not only is he solid on the back foot, but the Spaniard is also confident in carrying possession out of defence and looking to make things happen.
Last season, Setien used his pre-season campaign to give fringe players opportunities to impress, so unfamiliar lineups won't be out of the question.
Spirits are high at Betis and they will only improve further the longer they conduct their business using Setien's possession-heavy blueprint.
Simon Harrison (@simonhfootball), La Liga expert for FourFourTwo, WhoScored and more.
