Simeone urges Atletico to 'strive for better' ahead of Betis clash

Diego Simeone has called on Atletico Madrid to "strive to be better" as they travel to Real Betis in LaLiga on Monday, with the hosts looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions. 

Atletico sit just above Betis, with the sides fourth and fifth, respectively. Rojiblancos arrive following a 4-0 Champions League defeat to Arsenal, their second loss in the competition this term, but they did secure a 1-0 league win over Osasuna last weekend.

Simeone's side remain unbeaten in LaLiga since a shock 2-1 loss to Espanyol in their season curtain-raiser, and have also posted four wins, four draws, and one defeat from nine matches.

However, with Atletico eight points behind leaders Real Madrid, Simeone’s men look some way off mounting a title challenge, and the battle for a top-four spot may prove more realistic.

Atletico are yet to win away in the league this season, drawing three of four games, while Betis have won three of their four home matches.

In his pre-match press conference, Simeone said: "The challenge is to want more, to keep striving to be better, just like we did from the first day we arrived.

"To remain committed to the club’s idiosyncratic style of play throughout Atleti’s history, and we’re going to keep going until the very last day.”

Betis have collected four wins, four draws, and one defeat this season, the only loss coming against Athletic Bilbao in late August. Last weekend they drew 2-2 with Villarreal and followed that with a 0-0 Europa League draw against Genk on Thursday, maintaining an eight-match unbeaten streak.

After finishing sixth in La Liga last season, Manuel Pellegrini’s team will be aiming to challenge for European qualification again, with a top-four finish still within reach. Betis lost 4-1 to Atletico in their last meeting in May 2025, though the previous season they had won 1-0 at home against Los Rojiblancos.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Betis - Cucho Hernandez

Hernandez has registered five goal contributions (four goals and one assist) in nine LaLiga appearances this term. The forward has hit the ground running since his arrival during the January transfer window, having helped himself to a total of 11 goal involvements (six goals and one assist). 

Atletico Madrid - Thiago Almada

Almada clinched the decisive goal last weekend as he netted in Atletico's 1-0 victory over Osasuna as a second-half substitute. The Argentinian forward, who made the switch to the Spanish side from Botafogo in the summer, chipped in with a combined eight goal contributions for the Brazilian side and Lyon in Ligue 1 last term.

MATCH PREDICTION: ATLETICO MADRID WIN

Atletico have failed to score in their last two LaLiga away visits to the Benito Villamarín, drawing one and losing one, and have never gone three consecutive league games without scoring against Betis.

After their 1-0 win in October 2024, Betis have the chance to secure back-to-back home victories over Atletico in LaLiga for the first time since wins in 2004 and 2006, both under Lorenzo Serra Ferrer.

Both teams are also among LaLiga’s best at coming from behind this season: along with Barcelona (nine) and Mallorca (five), Atletico (six) and Betis (five) rank in the top four for points earned from losing positions.

Monday's hosts have earned points in four of their last seven LaLiga home encounters with Atletico, a marked improvement from a stretch where they lost seven of the previous nine home games against the Rojiblancos.

Simeone has enjoyed considerable success against Betis, winning 18 of his 25 league meetings with the club. In his LaLiga managerial career, only Getafe (20 wins) and Celta de Vigo (19) have yielded him more victories, while he has also claimed 18 wins each against Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Betis - 31.4%

Draw - 24.9%

Atletico Madrid - 43.7%