Real Betis vs Celta Vigo preview - Lopez praises Betis ahead of clash

Posted Sunday, August 25, 2013 by PA

Celta Vigo midfielder Alex Lopez has heaped praise on rivals Real Betis ahead of the two clubs' La Liga meeting at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Lopez believes Betis have already set out their stall as a serious threat this season after taking the lead at Real Madrid last week before eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Lopez said: "They are a complete team and this year they will be competing in the UEFA Europa League which says it all.

"They already proved very serious on the first day of the season at Real Madrid. It is going to be a tough game but we can go there and get the points."

Lopez scored Celta's first goal of the new season last weekend but his side endured a mixed afternoon after letting slip a 2-0 half-time lead to draw 2-2 at home to Espanyol.

Argentinian defender Gustavo Cabral is expected to fit to face Betis despite suffering concussion in the course of the draw which forced him to miss training this week.

Betis followed their excellent performance at the Bernabeu, in which Jorge Molina gave them a shock 11th-minute lead, with a 2-1 first leg win over Jablonec in their midweek Europa League qualifier in the Czech Republic.

Molina scored again in that win but the result slightly disappointed coach Pepe Mel who said: "We had chances to make it 2-0 but there was some doubts and fear. For now sometimes when we have the ball we can be a vulnerable team."