Atletico Madrid are limping toward the finish line of another season that might leave a sour taste, as they gear up to host a hungry Real Betis side still eyeing a top-five finish at the Metropolitano this weekend.
It’s fair to say Diego Simeone has raised the bar so high that now anything short of silverware feels like a letdown. He’s transformed Atletico from scrappy underdogs into a European heavyweight, but with serious money backing the project in recent years, expectations have grown — and once again, the results haven’t quite measured up.
Their midweek stumble didn’t help the narrative. A 2-0 loss to Osasuna at El Sadar saw Alejandro Catena break the deadlock before Ante Budimir delivered the knockout blow late in the match, piling more pressure on the capital club.
Meanwhile, Real Betis have been one of 2025’s standout performers. They’re not just dreaming big — they’re chasing a top-five La Liga finish and preparing for a date with Chelsea in the UEFA Europa Conference League final later this month in Wroclaw.
But momentum has cooled slightly. After a hot run of form, Betis have now settled for back-to-back draws. The latest was a comeback special — down 2-0 at Rayo Vallecano, they clawed their way back thanks to second-half strikes from Cucho Hernandez and the ever-reliable Isco, keeping their European hopes alive and kicking.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Betis live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this La Liga match in the U.S.:
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream: ESPN+
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in English language in the United States. Streaming options are available on ESPN+.
You can get an ESPN+ subscription for $11.99 per month or purchase an annual plan for $119.99 per year, a $24 savings. Stream your favorite teams live and enjoy more sports anywhere with an ESPN+ subscription.
What time does Atletico Madrid vs. Real Betis kick off?
This La Liga clash takes place at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain and kicks off on Sunday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Sun, May 18 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Central Time | Sun, May 18 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Sun, May 18 | 11:00 a.m. |
| Pacific Time | Sun, May 18 | 10:00 a.m. |
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Betis predicted lineups, team news
Atletico Madrid head into Sunday night’s showdown with a clean bill of health, having reported no new knocks following their midweek trip to Osasuna. That leaves Diego Simeone with a full deck to shuffle — and shuffle he likely will.
Expect a fresh coat of paint in the starting lineup, with the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Samuel Lino, Nahuel Molina, and Conor Gallagher all in line to be reintroduced into the mix. There could even be a defensive shake-up, with Clement Lenglet tipped to slot into the heart of the backline.
Up top, Julian Alvarez is set to link arms with Griezmann in attack, while Alexander Sorloth — the subject of growing transfer whispers — may find himself watching from the bench this time around.
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup (4-4-2, right to left): Oblak (GK) — Molina, Gimenez, Lenglet, Lino — Simeone, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher — Griezmann, Alvarez.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Real Betis head into their weekend clash carrying a few bumps and bruises, with Ezequiel Avila and Diego Llorente sidelined due to hamstring setbacks. Juanmi, Hector Bellerin, and Marc Roca also remain question marks, still working their way back into the fold.
Youssouf Sabaly, who hobbled off midweek against Rayo Vallecano, could also miss out. If he’s not ready to go, Aitor Ruibal looks primed to fill the void at right-back.
Further up the pitch, Antony and Isco have been pulling the strings brilliantly in the business end of the season, and both are expected to headline the starting lineup once again. Leading the line, Cucho Hernandez should get the nod to spearhead the attack in what’s shaping up to be another high-stakes outing for the Seville side.
Real Betis predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Adrian (GK) — Ruibal, Bartra, Natan, Rodriguez — Cardoso, Fornals — Antony, Isco, Ezzalzouli — Hernandez.
Injured: Ezequiel Avila, Diego Llorente, Juanmi (doubt), Hector Bellerin (doubt), Marc Roca (doubt).
Suspended: None.
La Liga fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Sunday, May 18
- Atletico Madrid vs. Real Betis (1:00 p.m.)
- Barcelona vs. Villareal (1:00 p.m.)
- Celta Vigo vs. Rayo Vallecano (1:00 p.m.)
- Las Palmas vs. Leganes (1:00 p.m.)
- Osasuna vs. Espanyol (1:00 p.m.)
- Real Mallorca vs. Getafe (1:00 p.m.)
- Real Sociedad vs. Girona (1:00 p.m.)
- Real Valladolid vs. Alaves (1:00 p.m.)
- Sevilla vs. Real Madrid (1:00 p.m.)
- Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao (1:00 p.m.)
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