Real Betis

The Case For Them

Here is the argument for Real Betis: Spain, Spain La Liga, and a ground called Estadio de La Cartuja. A second team should give you something your first one cannot, and this is a different country's whole weather system.

• The calendar you inherit

  Following Spain La Liga means odd kick-off hours, a new commentary language and a table you will check before your own club's. Spain becomes part of your week.

• Old enough to matter

  1907 is the founding date, old enough that the club has survived a war, a rebuild and at least one financial scare, young enough that the good years are still in living memory.

• Nothing won, everything to play for

  No major honours on record, which means every cup run is uncharted territory and every promotion feels like a coronation.

• Cathedral football

  Estadio de La Cartuja holds around 70,000. Even a routine league game arrives with a noise floor most clubs only reach in a semi-final.