The UEFA Europa league is back in this Thursday as Real Betis welcome Celtic for the fixture at the Estadio Benito Villamarin for their opening Group G clash. This marks the first ever encounter between the Scottish visitors and the Spaniards and also the first for Betis against any Scottish opponent.
The hosts are currently 9th in the La Liga standings with 5 points in 4 league fixtures. Betis have won once, drawn twice and lost once. They claimed their first victory in the Spanish top tier this weekend’s fixture beating Granada 2-1. Los Verdiblancos sealed all 3 points after Rodri scored a goal at stoppage time in the first half and Sergio Canales scored an 89th minute winner for Real Betis.
The hosts come for their first European campaign since the 2018/19 season, after they finished the top flight last season in the sixth place. Betis have been on good form in the group stages having lost only one match in the previous 12 group games in the Europa and have kept 8 clean sheets in the process.
Group G contesters are Bayern Leverkusen and Ferencvaros and Betis will be confident to move to the knockout stages.
Celtic on the other hand, come to this European fixture after a comfortable 3-0 victory at home against Ross County in the Scotland premiership. Celtic have had mixed performances under the management of the new boss Ange Postecoglou.
Celtic were knocked out of Champions League qualifying by Midtjylland and also beaten in the opening Old Firm derby of the season by Rangers. Celtic was then set up in a tie with AZ in the play-off round and this result will serve as a warning to Betis that they shouldn’t expect to have this all their own way. Celtic have adopted an attacking approach under Postecoglou and we should be in for a really entertaining game.
Real Betis vs Celtic head to head
This will be the first encounter between the two sides and both sides are capable of making their mark in the Europa League and have a point to prove in this fixture.
Home Team
- Granada 1-2 Real Betis
- Real Betis 0-1 Real Madrid
- Real Betis 1-1 Cadiz
- Mallorca 1-1 Real Betis
- Real Betis 5-2 Roma
Away
- Celtic 3-0 Ross County
- Rangers 1-0 Celtic
- Alkmaar 2-1 Celtic
- Celtic 6-0 St. Mirren
- Celtic 2-0 Alkmaar
Real Betis team news
Marc Bartra will miss the encounter due to an injury. Youssouf Sabaly and Diego Lainez might also not be available.
Celtic team news
James Forrest and Greg Taylor are injured at the moment. Christopher Jullien and Kyogo Furuhashi are also carrying knocks and might not feature in the squad.
Prediction and Odds
- A draw
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5
