Real Betis vs Levante preview - Perez seeking home comforts

Posted Sunday, January 13, 2013 by PA

Betis midfielder Ruben Perez believes his side have to be faithful to their style at the Benito Villamarin despite being far more successful on the road than at home this season.

Los Verdiblancos have lost five of their nine home league games this season, compared to just two away from home, and Pepe Mel's men face the added complication this weekend of being without playmaker Benat who is suspended.

However, Perez insists they must continue to play patiently, whilst also learning to be more wary of the opposition's counter-attacks.

He told the club's website: "We should always play with the ball in our control, but it is clear that it has been a bit more complicated for us at home. Every game is a world that presents itself differently. Against Las Palmas we started with the ball and they had some counter-attacks against us. The team is good but we are working to correct these type of things.

"Benat is very important for us. We could miss him, but we have players with his characteristics and we will try so that his absence is less noticeable."

To compound Benat's absence, his usual partner in central midfield Jose Canas is also a doubt, whilst Chechu Dorado, Alex Martinez and Juan Carlos have also been ruled out through injury.

Levante meanwhile can overtake their opponents to move into the top five with a win this weekend, but midfielder Juanlu has complained that Los Granotes still do not get enough respect from the national media.

A number of robust and at times dangerous challenges from Sergio Ballesteros and David Navarro have been highlighted this season and the midfielder believes his teammates have become marked men by the press.

He told Marca: "We are used to the press railing against Ballesteros and Navarro. They are great footballers, big guys and you see their hits more because they have a camera pursuing them to catch this action. For Levante players the hits arrive from every side, but other footballers from bigger teams are not treated the same."

Both Ballesteros and Navarro are expected to start in central defence for the trip to Seville, but Vicente Iborra is suspended so Miguel Pallardo may be handed a rare start and Obafemi Martins also returns after being banned for last weekend's 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.