Without confirmed formations, we're working with expectations. Betis, under their usual setup, will likely line up in a fluid 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 — though we can't confirm the numbers, so we'll just say they'll dominate the ball. Their midfield is the engine room: quick passing, half-space runners, and a number ten who can knife through the lines. Alavés, meanwhile, are expected to sit in a low block, likely a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1, looking to absorb pressure and hit on the break. The brief hints at a 1-3-5-2 for Alavés in a recent preview, but that's for a different match — so we treat it as a general tendency, not gospel.

The battle will be won in the middle third. Betis will try to pin Alavés back, forcing them to defend deep and narrow. Alavés will look to spring their wing-backs and a lone striker on the counter, hoping to catch Betis' high line napping. Set pieces could be Alavés' best friend — they're a physical side, and Betis can be vulnerable to aerial duels. But if Betis get their passing rhythm going, Alavés will spend 70 minutes chasing shadows. The game state is predictable: Betis on the front foot, Alavés parking the bus, and one moment of quality deciding it.