Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Europa Conference League clash between Legia Warsaw and Real Betis, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Real Betis will travel to the Polish capital for their opening Europa Conference League game against Legia Warsaw on Thursday.
Legia negotiated three qualifying rounds to seal their spot in the main draw, while Betis breezed through the playoff round to secure their place in the league phase.
Match preview
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Legia are competing in the Europa Conference League for the second straight season after they progressed from the group stage in the 2023-24 competition.
Unfortunately for Legia, their European campaign was brought to an abrupt end by a heavy 6-2 aggregate defeat to Molde in the knockout round playoffs.
The Polish side are now looking forward to another appearance in the Europa Conference League main draw after they saw off Caernarfon Town and Brondby in qualifying before sweeping past Drita in the playoff round.
Legia are now preparing for the visit of Betis, and they will enter Thursday’s contest off the back of an underwhelming set of results which has seen them lose back-to-back matches before playing out a 1-1 draw with Gornik Zabrze.
However, the hosts may be able to draw inspiration from the fact they won three of their four home matches in the main draw of last season’s Europa Conference League, including a 3-2 victory over Premier League Aston Villa.
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Betis are the first Spanish team to appear in the Europa Conference League main draw after Osasuna failed to make it past the playoff round last season.
Los Verdiblancos had no such trouble as they swept past Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih via 5-0 aggregate scoreline to seal their spot in the league phase.
Since beating Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 2-0 in the second leg, Manuel Pellegrini‘s side have gone on to win three, draw one and lose two of their last six La Liga matches.
After losing to Mallorca and drawing against Las Palmas, Betis would have been pleased to return to winning ways in Sunday’s home game against Espanyol, with Giovani Lo Celso netting a late winner to spare Abde Ezzalzouli‘s blushes following his earlier penalty miss.
That result represented their fourth win in their last five home matches, but they have been unable to produce similar results on their travels, having won just one of their four competitive away games this season (D1, L2).
Having scored just one goal in their previous three away matches, Los Verdiblancos will need to offer a greater attacking threat if they are to win their first competitive meeting with Legia.
Legia Warsaw Europa Conference League form:
Legia Warsaw form (all competitions):
Real Betis Europa Conference League form:
Real Betis form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts are without the services of midfielder Juergen Elitim, who sustained a serious knee injury in pre-season.
Rafal Augustyniak may be recalled to the side to feature in a back three which could contain Radovan Pankov and Steve Kapuadi.
Maxi Oyedele, who completed a summer move from Manchester United, will hope to retain his place in the Legia midfield after he made his first start for the club in Saturday’s draw with Gornik Zabrze.
As for the visitors, Pellegrini is still unable to call upon the injured trio of Isco, Youssouf Sabaly and William Carvalho.
Defender Marc Bartra could feature in the matchday squad after recovering from an injury which has kept him out of the last seven matches.
With one eye on Sunday’s crucial derby, the Betis boss may decide to rotate his squad for Thursday’s clash against Legia, with Romain Perraud, Johnny Cardoso, Pablo Fornals, Assane Diao and Vitor Roque among those who could be considered for starting spots.
Legia Warsaw possible starting lineup:
Tobiasz; Augustyniak, Pankov, Kapuadi; Chodyna, Kapustka, Oyedele, Luquinhas, Vinagre; Pekhart, Alfarela
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Bellerin, Llorente, Natan, Perraud; Cardoso, Altimira; Diao, Fornals, Ezzalzouli; Roque
We say: Legia Warsaw 1-1 Real Betis
Betis have drawn two of their previous three away matches, and we think they Spanish side will have to settle for another point in Thursday’s contest, especially as Legia have lost just one of their previous six home matches in all competitions.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.