Pérez’s Betis Overcome Mallorca In La Liga

- A La Liga win for Ayoze Pérez and Real Betis
- George Hirst scores again for Ipswich in League 1
- League 2 involvement for three Foxes youngsters
- Hamza Choudhury to return after the internationals

The Spaniard was also in the starting XI for the 1-0 home defeat to Manchester United last Thursday in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie, which knocked Betis out of the competition, beaten 5-1 on aggregate.

Los Verdiblancos put their European disappointment firmly behind them just three days later, recording a slender domestic triumph courtesy of Borja Iglesias’ strike shortly after the break.

Pérez played 69 minutes of the clash at Estadio Benito Villamarín, before being replaced by William Carvalho, with the result seeing Betis remain fifth, three points behind Real Sociedad.

They will be aiming to maintain their impressive current form against Atlético Madrid, taking on Colchoneros at Cívitas Metropolitano on Sunday 2 April (8pm BST kick-off).

George Hirst scored his second in as many games to steer Ipswich Town to back-to-back 2-0 successes and a sixth straight Sky Bet League 1 victory without conceding a goal.

After helping Town see off Bolton Wanderers a week earlier, the young striker struck a quarter-of-an-hour into Saturday’s meeting with Shrewsbury Town at Portman Road, before Massimo Luongo netted a second shortly after half-time.

The Tractor Boys remain third in the table, three points adrift of the second automatic promotion spot, ahead of travelling to Pride Park this Saturday for a meeting with Derby County (3pm kick-off).

Into Sky Bet League 2, Kasey McAteer started AFC Wimbledon’s 1-0 reverse at home to Crawley Town. The midfielder played the first half at Cherry Red Records Stadium, with Ashley Nadesan’s goal proving to be the winner.

Barrow are next up for the Dons on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off), making the long trip up to Holker Street off the back of a dismal run of 10 games without victory, which has seen the capital club slip to 17th in the standings.

There was a better result for Jakub Stolarczyk’s Hartlepool United, who secured a 2-2 draw at play-off contenders Bradford City last weekend. The 22-year-old 'keeper was beaten twice by Andy Cook, but goals from Callum Cooke and Daniel Kemp earned a share of the spoils for the away side.

Sitting 23rd in League 2, the Pools are two points behind Crawley Town prior to welcoming leaders Leyton Orient to Victoria Park on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Elsewhere in the division, centre-back Ben Nelson played 90 minutes as Doncaster Rovers fell to defeat at Salford City on Saturday. The 3-1 scoreline was followed by a 1-1 draw with Crawley Town at The People’s Pension Stadium, though Nelson was not involved, with the defender now away on England Under-19s duty.

He will be absent once more when 12th-place Rovers host Northampton Town at Eco-Power Stadium this Saturday, though fellow Foxes loanee Josh Eppiah will be hoping for a return to action for the visitors.

The forward missed out through injury as Northampton recorded successive 1-0 home victories in the fourth tier. Beating Mansfield Town last midweek, the Cobblers then saw off Crewe Alexandra by the same scoreline at the weekend to sit fourth, outside the top three on goal difference.

Hamza Choudhury was again not involved for Watford in the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic at Vicarage Road last weekend as the midfielder served the final game of his two-match suspension for collecting 10 yellow cards.

The 25-year-old is back in contention to feature after the international break when the Hornets take on rivals Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday 1 April (12:30pm BST kick-off). Chris Wilder’s men are 10th, five points outside the play-offs heading into that encounter, which could mark Choudhury’s 30th league appearance for the club.

Marc Albrighton’s next outing for West Bromwich Albion may also be on the same day, as the Baggies host Millwall in a 3pm BST kick-off. The winger has nine games under his belt for the Midlands club since his January loan move, while Carlos Corberán’s side lie ninth in the Sky Bet Championship as it stands, on the same points as Watford.

All times GMT unless stated.