Betis take on the visitors Feyenoord in the round 8 match of UEFA Europa League – League Phase. The match will be played on Thursday, January 29th at Estadio de La Cartuja (Sevilla).
Betis have been working for quite a long time under the same head coach, Pellegrino. The experienced Chilean knows how to get the maximum out of ambitious mid-table sides with decent potential. Under his guidance, Betis consistently stay in the upper part of the La Liga table, even if they fall short of qualifying for the Champions League: they finished sixth last season and can realistically repeat that result now. There have also been no major issues on the international stage. Last season’s Conference League finalists started the higher-level competition with two draws in their first three matches, but then went on a winning run. Last Thursday, they unexpectedly lost to PAOK, conceding two unanswered goals. Still, their overall recent form remains reliable, especially at home. Betis tend to control games in Seville and usually turn territorial dominance into points.
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Feyenoord have failed to make a real step forward. The Pride of the South are considered one of the traditional giants of Dutch football, but their level has clearly dipped in recent times. Last season, there was even a risk of dropping to fourth place, but the return of Van Persie to the club, this time as head coach, helped stabilize the situation. Finishing third again sent them into the Champions League qualifiers, where they started with a narrow win over Fenerbahçe, only to be heavily beaten in Istanbul. As a result, and amid inconsistent Eredivisie form, they ended up in the Europa League, where performances have been disappointing. Apart from a single win over Panathinaikos, they lost all other matches. Last week, they thrashed Sturm 3–0, but that result is unlikely to change much, except for preserving very slim, mostly theoretical playoff hopes. Overall, Feyenoord have struggled to maintain consistency away from home. Their recent results suggest confidence issues when facing well-organized opponents.
The teams will meet in Seville for the first time. The Spanish side are far more experienced at this level and are playing at home. The pick here is a Betis win against the visitors from the Netherlands.
Prediction for the match: Betis to win.
